Item #09
Date: February 7, 2023
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christian S. Sachs, Chief of Police
Jim Schaad, City Manager
Subject: Agreement with LensLock, Inc.
Recommendation:
Pass a Motion to 1) approve an agreement with LensLock, Inc to purchase officer body-worn cameras (BWC’s), in-car cameras, and related other equipment and services for $247,719.30 for the five-year period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2028. (Annual payments of $49,543.86), 2) Authorize the Chief of Police, or designee to execute the Lenslock, Inc. agreement and any associated amendments to the agreement thereafter, 3) authorize the Finance Director to make a supplemental appropriation of $49,544 to 10-130-5215 (Small Tools & Instruments); and 4) waive the requirement for a Request for Proposals (RFP) per the provisions of Marysville Municipal Code 2.76.120.
Rationale for Recommendation:
The Marysville Police Department does not deploy body-worn cameras or in-car cameras. Marysville Police Department is the last of the agencies in the Bi-County region without these devices. BWC’s are increasingly used to improve evidence collection and agency transparency, document encounters between law enforcement and the public, strengthen officer performance and accountability, and investigate and resolve complaint and officer-involved incidents. LensLock Inc. is offering the body camera’s and in-cameras for free from time of approval until June 30, 2023, then the five-year contract would begin July 1, 2023.
Background:
Law Enforcement agencies across the nation are using new technologies such as automated license plate readers, thermal imaging software, gunshot detection systems, facial recognition software, predictive analytics systems, and body-worn cameras (BWC’s) to enhance policing capabilities and improve public service. By providing empirical evidence through unalterable audio and visual recordings, BWC’s are increasingly used to improve evidence collection and agency transparency, document encounters between law enforcement and the public, strengthen officer performance and accountability, and investigate and resolve complaint and officer-involved incidents. In addition, BWC’s can provide law enforcement leadership with greater insights into field operations informing any necessary training, policy, and process improvements. As of 2019, nearly half of the nation’s 18,000 law enforcement agencies have developed BWC programs. On October 29, 2020, the Department of Justice announced that state, local, territorial, and tribal task force officers will begin using BWC’s in partnership with local jurisdictions in hundreds of federal task forces across the nation. In California, 74% (290 of 394) of city and county law enforcement agencies, and 62% (36 of 58) of Sheriff’s Offices have deployed BWC Item #09
programs. Some agencies choose to equip only patrol officers with camera’s, while others require all uniformed staff to wear a camera.
A policy has been completed by Department staff and is a recommended policy used by Lexipol which is the agencies Policy provider.
A review of literature by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) suggests that well-constructed BWC programs can provide numerous benefits to law enforcement agencies and to local criminal justice systems. Findings from a 2014 DOJ / Community-Oriented Policing Services sponsored forum, attended by over 200 police chiefs, sheriffs, scholars, and federal criminal justice agency officials, cited the following benefits:
1. Increased accountability and transparency by providing a video record of law enforcement activities, officials reported that BWC’s make operations more transparent to the public and help to resolve questions following an encounter between officers and members of the public.
They help agencies evaluate and improve officer performance and enable agencies to identify and correct any training, policy, or process deficiencies.
2. Reducing complaints and resolving officer-involved incidents. Officials reported a noticeable drop in complaints after deploying BWC’s. One explanation provided is that the mere presence of a camera can lead to more civil interactions between officers and the public, and that the act of being recorded tends to elevate behavior on both sides of the camera. Many agencies reported that having video footage of an encounter discourages people from filing spurious or unfounded complaints against officers saving significant time and money spent on lengthy investigations and lawsuits. Video can also demonstrate that officers provide constitutional policing on a regular basis and verify they are maintaining professionalism in patrol settings.
3. Identifying and addressing operational training or performance issues. Officials reported using video footage to provide scenario-based training, to evaluate the performance of new officers in the field, and to identify emerging areas where training or policy revision is needed to maintain or elevate performance on tactics, communication, and customer service.
4. Evidence collection and documentation. Officials reported that BWC’s significantly improve evidence for civil and criminal court proceedings and can aid in internal investigations. In addition to documenting encounters with the public, video footage provides a record of interrogations and arrests, along with other aspects that are witnessed by the officer on scene.
Prosecutors participating in the forum reported that video evidence is particularly helpful in providing evidence in domestic violence cases that can be difficult to prosecute when evidence is insufficient for trial. Footage can show first-hand the victims’ injuries, demeanor, and occasionally the assault itself. When suspects are shown video footage, they often plead guilty without going to trial. While video footage is frequently captured by bystanders, it often fails to capture necessary details, the events leading up to an incident, or footage from the vantage point of the officer.
Discussion & Analysis:
In 2021, Sutter County Sheriff’s Department created an internal working group and explored three separate camera systems. They were Axon, LensLock Inc, and Watchguard. After a thorough analysis and cost comparison, in August 2022 the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department chose LensLock Inc.
Also in 2021, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department completed an analysis, and they also chose LensLock Inc.
LensLock Inc. was the only company who offered unlimited data and cloud-based storage for all digital evidence both past and future. All companies offered redaction programs however LensLock Inc. was the Item #09
only company that included a no cost unlimited redaction service through their company which will eliminate the need to hire and train new staff to serve as redaction aids. LensLock also offered a no cost portal for the District Attorney’s Office while other vendors were charging for this additional feature.
Marysville Police Department obtained a quote from LensLock Inc. that is in comparison to the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department and Yuba County Sheriff’s Department. The Marysville Police Department is requesting to enter into an agreement with LensLock Inc. for (22) Twenty-two Gen 12 Body Cameras and (13) Thirteen Titan V In-Car video systems. This also includes installation, hardware warranty, new cameras every 30 months, CAD integration, Migration and hosting of legacy data, LensLock FBI-CJIS Redaction services, 24/7/365 Premier Customer Support, LensLock Evidence Management Software Access, and District Attorney & Defense Based Software Licenses.
The annual payments are $49,543.96 for a 5-year term for a total of $247,719.30.
The City of Marysville is a member of the Northern California Cities Self Insurance Fund (NCCSIF) which is an association of municipalities joined to protect member resources by stabilizing risk costs in a reliable, economical and beneficial manner while providing members with broad coverage and quality services in risk management and claims management. As a member of NCCSIF, a small percentage of funding is allocated to cities for risk management. There is currently $10,988.15 in the City of Marysville’s risk management account that can be allotted towards the use of body cameras.
The Department would submit a request to NCCSIF for use of these funds to assist in offsetting the year one costs associated with the in-car and body camera proposal.
Marysville Municipal Code 2.76.120 MMC Waiver:
Pursuant to the provisions in Section 2.76.120 Section (1)(A) Exceptions to Bidding requirements, Subsection (ii) when, upon a majority vote of the city council it is determined that it is in the best interests of the city to suspend competitive bidding for any purchase or contract.
The LensLock Inc. in-car camera system and body-camera systems have the following features and services which are exclusive to LensLock and provide the best usability with the lowest fiscal impact.
1. LensLock offers unlimited outsourced redaction services at no cost.
2. LensLock offers a superior service from the other providers at lower rates.
3. LensLock’s quoted pricing to Sutter County Sheriff’s Department was 15 percent lower than the closest vendor quotation and 57 percent lower than the highest vendor quotation. Sutter County vendor quotes are attached for reference if needed.
4. LensLock offers free integration with our CAD System provider.
Fiscal Analysis:
Staff recommends authorizing the Finance Director to make a supplemental appropriation of $49,544 to 10-130-5215 (Small Tools & Instruments). For FY2023-24 through FY2026-27, the annual payment will be added to the appropriate budget.
Attachments:
1) Marysville Proposal
2) Sutter County CSO Proposal
3) Sutter County WatchGuard Quote
4) Sutter County Corrections WatchGuard Quote
5) Sutter County Axon Quote