City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: December 16, 2025
From: Robert Sousa, Chief of Police
Department: Police
Submitted by: Gustavo Herrera, Lieutenant - Services Division Subject
Purchase of Tasers from Axon Enterprises Inc
Recommendation
A. Approve and authorize the issuance of a Purchase Order (PO) to Axon Enterprises Inc. for the purchase of 50 (fifty) Axon Taser 10 Pro Bundle for a total not to exceed $319,746; and B. Authorize a contingency amount of five percent (5%) or $15,987 in the event of unforeseen expenses and grant authority to the City Administrator to approve issuance of change orders to the PO for Axon Taser equipment, up to the contingency amount, if needed.
Background
The Police Department (PD) is requesting approval to replace the aging X26P Axon Taser devices that have been in use since 2017. PD currently has 50 (fifty) X26P Axon Taser devices assigned to sworn staff. These devices are the second generation of Tasers and are nearing the end of their 10-year shelf life.
Tasers help control violent or potentially violent suspects while minimizing the risk of serious injury to suspects, members of the community, and officers. Tasers are a less-than-lethal alternative for law enforcement in situations where a subject is combative and/or possesses items that can be utilized as weapons. These devices have repeatedly been proven to be a valuable tool that has significantly changed how law enforcement engages with and subdues violently resistant suspects.
As technology continues to evolve, the Taser X26P model is considered outdated, and Axon now provides a modern version in the Taser 10. PD conducted a thorough evaluation of the Taser X26P inventory, including reliability, operational efficiency, and compatibility with modern policing technology. Through this evaluation, PD determined that upgrading to Axon’s latest Taser 10 would provide significant benefits to officer safety, operational effectiveness, and training efficiency. Taser 10 offers advanced features, including greater engagement distance, improved accuracy, and enhanced de-escalation tools, making it a more effective and reliable solution for modern policing needs. The Taser 10 enhances safety by reducing the likelihood of closequarters physical confrontations and providing officers with more precise, controlled options for resolving high-risk encounters. These improvements support more effective de-escalation strategies, minimizing the potential for injury to both officers and individuals during critical incidents.
Axon Enterprises Inc. is widely recognized as the industry standard and is used by law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Axon Enterprises Inc. is a vendor under Sourcewell Contract #101223-AXN, a purchasing cooperative, thereby negating the necessity to go through a formal bidding process as is usually required. This piggy-back purchase method is consistent with the City of Vernon Municipal Code Section 3.32.110 A(5)(b), for supplies, equipment or services that can be purchased in cooperation with other public agencies, associations or when supplies, equipment or services can be purchased from a vendor offering the same prices, terms and conditions as in a previous award from the City or another public agency either by competitive bid or through a negotiated process and, it is to the advantage of the City to do so.
City Council approval of the proposed purchase with Axon Enterprises Inc. is required pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) 3.32.030 (A) as the total value over the lifetime of the agreement exceeds $100,000.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is not-to-exceed $319,746 with a 5% contingency of $15,987, for a total amount of $335,733. Sufficient funds are available in General Fund, Police Department, Capital Equipment Account No. 011-030-300-660015 for the current fiscal year and will be budgeted in subsequent years. Annual payments over the five-year agreement term are as follows:
Agreement (year 1) $59,882 FY2025-26
Agreement (year 2) $64,966 FY2026-27
Agreement (year 3) $64,966 FY2027-28
Agreement (year 4) $64,966 FY2028-29
Agreement (year 5) $64,966 FY2029-30
Attachments
1. Axon Enterprise Inc. Taser Quote #Q776411-45980AS