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DATE: |
December 10, 2024 |
05 |
SUBJECT
Title
SHERIFF- REQUEST TO WAIVE BOARD POLICY A-87 AND EXTEND CONTRACTS WITH AXON ENTERPRISE INC FOR BODY-WORN CAMERAS AND TASERS (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
In today's modern policing landscape, body-worn cameras (BWC) and tasers have emerged as essential tools that enhance and increase safe public interactions with law enforcement, support police accountability, promote transparency, and improve incident outcomes. As law enforcement agencies strive to build trust with the communities they serve, BWCs provide an objective record of interactions, helping to ensure that both law enforcement officers and civilians are held accountable for their actions. Meanwhile, a taser, a handheld electronic device that uses an electric current to temporarily incapacitate a person, serves as a critical tool to help deescalate law enforcement contacts and potential uses of force. Tasers offer a non-lethal alternative for subduing individuals in potentially volatile situations, which allows law enforcement officers to effectively manage confrontations without resorting to deadly force. Together, these technologies not only bolster the integrity of policing practices but also foster a culture of professionalism and accountability.
In 2017, the San Diego Sheriff's Office (Sheriff's Office) conducted an extensive solicitation, successfully awarded the BWC contract to Axon Enterprise Inc. (Axon), and began utilizing BWCs in its patrol operations. In 2022, it deployed the rollout of BWCs in the Sheriff's Office jail setting, expanding the program across the different facilities as infrastructure was implemented to host the devices. In 2005, the Sheriff's Office began procuring tasers from Taser International, Inc (TASER). TASER changed their name to Axon and since 2017, the Sheriff's Office has been utilizing Axon as its vendor for both tasers and BWCs. Law enforcement considers safety, standardization and interoperability when purchasing equipment. With constant technological advancements, law enforcement equipment is experiencing new developments that build on transparency, accuracy, and efficiencies, resulting in constant improvements to the standards and features of equipment. All the equipment, accessories and supplies requested for procurement have been tested and evaluated for efficiency, functionality, durability, and safety. Standardization of equipment and supplies offers the uniformity necessary for ease of training and inter-operational use within the law enforcement community, thereby enhancing the safety of Sheriff's Office personnel and the public.
Today’s actions request the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) to waive Board Policy A-87 and approve an extension to the Sheriff's Office's two current contracts for BWCs and tasers with Axon to December 31, 2030.
RECOMMENDATIONS
SHERIFF
1. Waive Board Policy A-87, which requires competitive procurement of goods and services.
2. Authorize the Director, Department of Purchasing and Contracting to extend the contracts for the body-worn camera system and tasers through December 31, 2030 and an additional six one-month option periods as needed, and to amend the contracts to reflect changes and enhancements in product, service level requirements, and funding, subject to the approval of the Sheriff.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Body-worn cameras (BWCs) can help improve equity in police interactions with communities by increasing safety, accountability, and transparency by guaranteeing a visual and audio record of police interactions and conduct. BWCs can provide an unbiased record of interactions between law enforcement officers and civilians, which can help build trust with communities. Tasers, as a less-lethal option for law enforcement, reduce the likelihood of fatal encounters, fostering consistency in the use of force, and enhancing community trust. Their effective and equitable use requires ongoing training, data analysis, and accountability mechanisms to ensure that individuals receive fair and just treatment in interactions with law enforcement.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed actions to acquire specific standard issued and special operations equipment for law enforcement purposes contribute to County of San Diego Sustainability Goals related to equity and waste reduction. Delivering public safety services with a consistency of configuration, training, safety, efficiency, and interoperability for everyone in San Diego County fosters trust and increases transparency. In addition, the continuation of standard equipment issuance reduces waste that would otherwise occur with agency-wide replacement of equipment to a different supplier each time a new contract is needed.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds of $1,532,260 for body worn cameras (BWCs) are included in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operational Plan for the Sheriff's Office. If approved, today’s request will result in additional costs, estimated at $8,586,619, for the purchase of BWCs, maintenance, repair, training, software, and warranties from July 1, 2025 through December 2030. The funding source for the current year is the Asset Forfeiture Fund. Remaining contract years costs will be included in future Operational Plans for the Sheriff’s Office. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staffing.
There is no current fiscal year impact associated with extending the Axon’s Taser contract thru December 31, 2030. The Sheriff’s Office will be upgrading tasers for an estimated total cost of $14,000,000 and will be included in future Operational Plans as the Office identifies funding. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
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Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
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BACKGROUND
On October 25, 2005 (3), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a three-year contract to acquire and maintain over 800 Taser X26s from Axon. As the need for more tasers increased, the San Diego Sheriff's Office (Sheriff's Office) returned to the Board over the years for subsequent Board actions that authorized the procurement of additional tasers, cartridges, weapons system accessories, training, and maintenance warranties. Most recently, on September 27, 2022 (4), the Board approved a contract for up to six years with authorized distributors of Tasers and to alter to a dissimilar model from the same manufacturer if an improved model of the taser is verified and accepted by the Sheriff's Office.
The Sheriff's Office standard issued duty and special operations weapons are configured to meet specific uses. Authority for single source procurements of these items from a specific manufacturer is requested due to the need for consistency of configuration, training, efficiency, and safety. The BWCs and tasers are manufactured and sold by Axon. Currently, the Sheriff's Office holds two separate contracts: one for BWCs and the second for tasers. The current BWC contract with Axon expires on August 31, 2027. The current taser contract with Axon is effective through May 11, 2026. The contract was amended on May 12, 2023, adding the new Taser10 (T10) model. Presently, the Sheriff's Office has a limited number of cartridges remaining in our inventory. Due to the phasing out of Axon's Taser X2s (X2) model, the current model utilized by the Sheriff's Office, all warranties and support associated with this model are being discontinued. While the Sheriff's Office works to expend the remaining supply of Taser X2s, it is starting to anticipate the roll out of the new T10 model.
Over the years, the taser has been enhanced with many new innovations based on extensive research and customer feedback, especially from law enforcement agencies across the nation. Axon has developed its most capable and sophisticated taser energy weapon to date. The Sheriff's Office has tested and evaluated this product and found meeting the needs with capabilities that significantly increase accuracy and effectiveness, therefore decreasing the likelihood of escalation to lethal force. The Sheriff's Office anticipates purchasing Axon’s T10 replacing the Sheriff’s Office current inventory of Axon’s Taser X2 as part of its less-lethal weapons systems replacement program. The new tasers will be deployed as X2s are phased out and deputies are trained with the new T10 model.
Body-worn cameras represent a technological advancement in policing and provide high-quality public service expected of the Sheriff's Office by promoting accountability and transparency. Many policing agencies that utilize BWCs have seen improvement in the performance of officers and the conduct of the community members who are recorded. Recordings made at crime and incident scenes are a tangible benefit of BWCs and can provide investigators, prosecutors and juries with detailed, accurate and compelling evidence. The Sheriff's Office has invested a large amount of financial and personnel resources in the current system. Sheriff's Office staff are proficient in using and administering the Axon system. All deputy equipment is standardized across the department to facilitate efficiencies in training and maintenance of equipment. Additionally, recordings have been used in training both current staff and new deputies at the law enforcement academy to better understand real-life scenarios and opportunities to deescalate various calls for service.
Approximately 1,200 BWCs are deployed in the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Services Bureau (LESB) and 1,300 BWCs have been deployed with the Sheriff's Detention Services Bureau. Extending the contract will allow the Sheriff's Office to upgrade the BWCs that were initially deployed within LESB starting in 2017. The extension of the BWC and taser contract until December 31, 2030, will allow the Sheriff's Office to continue contracting with Axon and maintaining the current inventory until we fully transfer to new Axons' models of BWC (AB4) and T10. Migrating to the latest AB4 model will allow the office to be on a supported platform until December 31st, 2030. Additionally, the pricing model is transitioning from a one-time purchase to a subscription-based model, in which on-going costs will be incurred on an annual basis. To address the compounding increase in costs, the Sheriff's Office's plan is to enroll users through a phased approach, until all devices have been replaced or upgraded. By extending the contracts, it will provide to the Sheriff's Office the opportunity to identify funding sources to cover these products for the future years.
This request is to waive Board Policy A-87 and approve an extension to the Sheriff's Office's current contracts for BWC and taser with Axon.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today's proposed action to authorize the extension of single source contracts procurement of law enforcement equipment supports the Community, Justice, and Sustainability Initiatives of the County of San Diego's 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by increasing accountability and transparency, supporting safety for all communities, and reducing waste.
Respectfully submitted,
KELLY A. MARTINEZ
Sheriff
ATTACHMENT(S)
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