STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
NB 1
8/26/2025
TN
Date: August 26, 2025
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From: Allison E. Burns, City Attorney
Rodrick Armalin, Chief of Police - Lancaster Police Department Subject: Proposal for the purchase of Axon equipment for the Lancaster Police Department Recommendation:
Approve the purchase of Axon body cameras, vehicle cameras, AI assisted report writing, and accompanying systems.
Fiscal Impact:
$350,130; ($70,026 per year, x 5 years) Sufficient funds are available in account 10130000.5710.
Background:
Body Worn Cameras (BWC) have become mainstream equipment in police departments throughout the United States due to public demand for transparency. BWC has since become a mainstream expectation in court for its evidentiary value.
The Lancaster Police Department originally purchased Lenslock Eagle BWC for its sworn staff.
However, the team has experienced numerous dependability issues with the Lenslock product with both hardware and data synchronization. Due to the critical role BWC serves, it is imperative these issues, not plague a sworn team. The current BWC’s will be reallocated to non-sworn personnel where data synchronization and dependability are less critical.
Axon, procured through Contract Sourcewell #101223-AXN, has been in the business of BWC for many years and its dependability proven in agencies across the nation, including LASD. The addition of Axon BWC’s to the Lancaster Police Department will serve to ensure this crucial piece of equipment serves its role as expected. This purchase will come with the added benefit of AI assisted report writing and auto-transcribe, reducing the time officers spend writing, freeing them up to focus on community issues. Further, this plan includes BWC tie-in with the Lancaster Police Department’s Drone-as-a-First-Responder program, enabling an officer to call for an automated 1 9
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drone response through the BWC. Finally, as part of the Axon ecosystem, cameras will automatically begin recording when an officer draws a firearm, deploys a taser, or activates lights and sirens, allowing officers to focus on what is critical while still ensuring officer activity is captured appropriately.
This proposal also includes in-vehicle camera systems which focus on the road and focus on the backseat to monitor detained persons’ well-being and actions. The forward camera is equipped with ALPR to add to the already robust technology of the Intelligence Crime Center’s capabilities.
Finally, the Axon system comes with the ability to provide links to the public so they can provide images and video of events related to a case or incident. The ability to integrate public provided evidence into a case enhances surety of facts and conclusions.
Attachment:
Axon Technology Solutions for Lancaster Police Department Axon Quote Q-727056-45854JS