The Police Department is seeking to implement a Comprehensive Body Worn Cameras and Mobile Video Recording Program. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed five-year Agreement from Axon Enterprise, Inc. that includes a Body Worn Camera for each Riviera Beach Police Officer and an Integrated Mobile Vehicle Recorder for each marked Police Vehicle. The proposal includes all related installation, software, hardware, training, Integrated Laser/CEW and unlimited data storage. The total five-year cost is $1,848,664.31. The cost for the first year of the Agreement is $532,728.31 and then $328,984.00 for each of the remaining four years.
The Benefits of Axon's System include the following:
- Integrated Body Worn Cameras and Mobile Video Recorders which allows activation by switching on emergency lights provides a single platform for all digital and video evidence (i.e. Crime Scene photos, audio statements, etc.).
- Automatic Body Worn Camera activation when Taser is deployed.
- Comprehensive Warranty and Maintenance Support Agreement that replaces each Body Worn Camera two times over the five-year period to include spare units.
On September 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that $130,885.00 was allocated to the Riviera Beach Police Department through the Department of Justice FY2016 Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program Grant. The City Council accepted the grant pursuant to the adoption of Resolution No. 159-16 on November 30, 2016.
The City Council approved $314,589.00 for Body Worn Cameras in the FY2017 Capital Budget, and when combined with the grant funds, provided a total project budget of $445,474.00 for Fiscal Year 2018. The Police Department is also committing approximately $30,000.00 in Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) which will offset the annual payments for years two through five by $30,000.00 per year.
The Grant is being used to implement a Body Worn Camera Program for the Riviera Beach Police Department. Body Worn Cameras will be used to increase transparency of Police encounters with the community, aid in successful prosecution of criminals, and reduce citizen complaints.
In December 2015, the Police Department conducted a 90-day Pilot Program where it evaluated Body Worn Cameras and the associated hardware and software components. The Police Department worked with the Purchasing Department in order to develop a scope of services for the issuance of an RFP. The Purchasing Department completed the Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation documents and began the public solicitation process on March 1, 2017 (RFP 871-17-2). Axon Enterprise, Inc. was identified as the most responsive bidder.
The goal of this project is to enhance the protection and security of the citizens of Riviera Beach and to strengthen the bond between the Police Department and the community it serves.