The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutPS 2017-06-19 Item 2C - Discussion - Police Department Body Camera ProgramTO: FROM: BY: City of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Public Safety Committee Mike Villa, Chief of Police Rick Mitchell, Acting Deputy Chief of Police CC: Mayor Ekberg DATE: June 14, 2017 SUBJECT: Tukwila Police Department Body Camera Program ISSUE The city would like to equip its officers with body cameras and improved in car cameras. BACKGROUND The Police Department has been researching the use of Body Worn Cameras, as well as the replacement of our current in car camera video system. The department conducted 2 pilot programs in 2016 using new equipment and technology. The purpose of the pilot program is due to our department's need for better video equipment capability and performance. The police department currently uses an in -car video camera system only, and officers are not equipped with body worn cameras. The in -car camera system currently utilized has not performed well, and has not met the needs of the department. This camera system has had operational and performance issues through the years. This equipment and technology is also becoming outdated. Officers are also equipped with Conductive Electricity Devices (OED's), commonly called a Taser, to control combative suspects in certain incidents and situations, and prevent officer and suspect injuries. The OED's were also issued years ago, and many need to be replaced or upgraded to ensure all department commissioned personnel have a properly performing device. In March of 2016, the department started researching this issue to meet our need for better performing equipment, as well as better video coverage of incidents and calls. We started our first pilot program with the body cameras from May to July 2016. We then started a second pilot program utilizing in car cameras and body cameras from December 2016 to present. The end of the second pilot program is near, and the department would like to purchase the equipment used, and continue our body worn camera program. DISCUSSION The purpose of the body cameras is for increased public safety, officer safety, enhanced recall of incidents and scenes, and increased transparency and accountability from the police department. The benefits of the addition of body worn cameras for departments that have deployed them also include less confrontations and violence against police officers, less complaints against officers, less uses of force by officers, and lower litigation and investigation costs. There has been ongoing discussion concerning privacy and public disclosure issues surrounding body camera programs. The department has developed and adopted a 17 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 comprehensive policy to address these concerns. The policy has been reviewed and approved by the City Attorney and agreed to by the Tukwila Police Officers Guild. During the 2 pilot programs, officers deployed body worn cameras during their duties. They were provided with the newest equipment and technology available in body camera and in car camera systems. When comparing our current equipment versus the new equipment used in the pilot program, the department found the new equipment to be a significant upgrade, to include better coverage on incidents, significantly better video quality, improved storage ability and capacity, retrieval, and reproduction capability. The maintenance, installation, and storage capability of the new equipment and software has shown to have a positive impact on the fleet and technology services departments as well, as compared to our current system. As part of the agreement, the department will have unlimited replacement warranty for any equipment failure on any of the 3 pieces of equipment purchased for the life of the contract. The company will provide upgrades on all equipment every 2.5 years with the latest technology as part of the agreement. The pilot programs were extremely successful using the Axon Enterprise technology and equipment. Based on the assessment and outcomes of the pilot program, the department would like to purchase the equipment detailed above. There is no other company that can provide these three pieces of integrated equipment. Additionally, the contract with Axon provides cloud storage and retrieval of all of our video. This is a sole source and is not required to go out for an PPP. FINANCIAL IMPACT The department currently spends approximately $60,000 per year on average on our current video system and CED/Taser replacement. $50,000 for the current video system replacement and repairs, and $10,000 per year for CED replacement. If the purchase is approved, the new system will involve 29 new vehicle video systems, 50 body cameras for all uniformed personnel, and 50 new OED's (Tasers) for an additional $40,000 per year. The total cost of the program will be $550,000.00 over the 5 -year agreement. $153,352.00 the first year due to capital and equipment purchase costs, and $98,892.00 for the following 4 years. The department will use existing funds within our budget supplemented by seizure funds to pay for the capital equipment costs and licensing in 2017 - 2018. The department will budget for the additional $40,000 per year beginning with the 2019 -2020 budget RECOMMENDATION The Council is being asked to authorize the Mayor to sign a contract with AXON Enterprise Inc. for the outfitting of department personnel and vehicles with a new video system, and new CED devices (Tasers). Secondly, the Council is being asked to authorize the Police Department to use a combination of existing funds and seizure funds totaling $153,352 in 2017 and $98,892 in 2018 to fund the acquisition. ATTACHMENTS Power point presentation. W:12O17 Info Memos\Body Cams.doc 18 TUKWILA POLICE DEPARTMENT BODY/ VEHICLE CAMERA PROGRAM PURCHASE APPROVAL • Request council approval for purchase and signing of contract with AXON Enterprises to outfit all vehicles and uniformed officers with video cameras. • As part of the agreement, this purchase will also provide the department with 50 new Conductive Electrical Devices (CED's), commonly known as Tasers. BODY CAMERA PROGRAMS INCREASE IN US • Controversial incidents /shootings, public demand for information /answers. • Increased scrutiny /accountability for police agencies. • Our need for better equipment capability, lower liability, lower complaints, and uses of force. • Many states currently debating /drafting legislation requiring LE agencies to wear them. It is inevitable that this will likely be required equipment by law enforcement in the near future. • Our department's problems with current system's performance /capability, as compared to the cost for that system. • Over 300 law enforcement agencies nationwide already use them. Purpose of the Cameras • Public Safety. • Officer Safety. • Reconstruction and recall of incidents and scenes. • Details of any incident from several vantage points from the officers and vehicles on scene. • Transparency /Accountability. • Additional ability to identify performance and /or training issues. • Job satisfaction. Research/ Case Studies on Impacts Rialto, CA- • Complaints against officers dropped 88 percent. • Use of Force by officers dropped 59 percent. • Significant decrease in civil and criminal cases. Orlando, FL- • Complaints against officers dropped 65 percent • Use of Force by officers dropped 53 percent • Significant decrease in civil and criminal cases Benefits to having the cameras • Lowers violence /confrontations against police officers . • Lower amounts of complaints, frivolous complaints. • Increased guilty pleas on criminal investigations ( reduced prosecution and defense resource /labor hours). • Lower time spent on Internal Investigations. • Lower litigations, and costs. • Lowers medical costs, L and I claims. (less confrontations) • Less impact on Fleet and TS (resources and labor hours). Tukwila PD Pilot Program -2016 • Established Policy - national best practice, model policy from IACP, DOJ, other agencies. Reached agreement with unions. • 5 officers wore body cameras May — July 2016. • 5 officers, 5 vehicles (dash cameras) — December 2016 present, one of the first in WA state, piloting this specific equipment. • Both pilots were very successful. • Minimal issues problems installation, gathering video, through reproduction. • Officer /department feedback positive. Comparison- Axon Body Cameras versus current system. • Better /smaller technology • Improved coverage on incidents from all vantage points • Significantly better video quality. • Significantly improved storage, reproduction, and delivery. (discs versus link, cloud storage, etc.) • 3 pieces of equipment, body cam, vehicle, taser (CED),Iatest technology. • Upgrades on all equipment every 2.5 years, with the latest technology. • Cloud based, no additional technology infrastructure costs. • Current system, one TS employee spent 50 -70 percent of his time. Privacy / Public Disclosure • WA HB 2362, Public Disclosure requirements /protections. • Department policy already established when officers can and cannot record. • Department policy also dictates when officers are required to record. • WA 2 party consent state (may record when in official duty or in investigative purpose). • Records manager will determine what is produced based on applicable state and federal law. • Body Camera Policy reviewed /approved by the City Attorney. Current system video quality Axon in car video system quality Axon video body camera quality D Investment /Costs • Capital costs • Licensing and storage costs • Public Disclosure Requests (labor /resources) • We currently spend approximately $60,000 per year for our current system (20- 25 in car camera systems, CED /Taser replacement) • $100,000 per year average for 50 officers cameras, 29 in car cameras, 50 new CED's (Tasers). • 153,352.00 first year capital cost includes equipment purchase. Department will use seizure funds to cover capital costs, 2018 cost increase ($40,000.00) • 98,892.00 for the following 4 years. • Possible amendment request of 40,000 per year to future budget cycles. PC AXON /Evidence.com Program Costs Hardware /Software /Services Price 74003 Axon FLEET w /Signal (2 camera) $ - 74001 AXON Body 2 $ 399.00 Evidence.com 6 -Bay Dock -All cameras $ 1,495.00 6 Bay Dock TAP $ 216.00 Officer Safety License (1 Year) $ 1,188.00 Unlimited License (1 Year) $ 948.00 Professional License (1 Year) $ 468.00 Standard License (1 Year) $ 300.00 Basic License (1 Year) $ 180.00 FLEET Unlimited License (1 Year) $ 1,188.00 RMS Integration License (User /Year) $ 180.00 85055 Axon Full Services (P5) $ 15,000.00 Taser CEW X26P or X2 KIT **All quotes are based on the agency making the purchase of the actual cameras and associated licenses. The mock quotations built with this tool are not legally binding. Officer Safety Program Quantity Amount 29 $ - 50 $ 19,950.00 10 $ 14,950.00 10 Included 50 $ 59,400.00 N/A 5 $ 2,340.00 $ 15 $ 2,700.00 29 $ 34,452.00 0 $ - 1 $ 15,000.00 50 Included 2017 $ 153,352.00 2018 $ 98,892.00 2019 $ 98,892.00 2020 $ 98,892.00 2021 $ 98,892.00 Total $ 548,920.00 Cameras & docks purchased in YR 1 Camera Warranty for length of contract TAP Camera Upgrade at 2.5 & 5yrs TAP Dock Upgrade at 2.5 & 5yrs Unlimited AXON Device Storage 20 GB /Licenses Non -Axon storage Docking Station Warranty 5 yr coverage All Pro -level Access to E.com CEWs, Holsters, Batteries & Warranties Included in the agreement • Unlimited replacement warranty for any equipment failure on all three devices. • Upgrades every 2.5 years with latest /newer technology. • Local support, AXON technical support in Seattle • Current system support, Houston. SUMMARY • Better quality equipment, newest technology. • Better performing technology and equipment. • Better storage and reproduction ability. • Minimal increase in investment /costs. Types of Body Worn Cameras • Glasses • Mounted on uniform shirt or pockets Vehicle /Equipment Demo