The Baltimore Board of Estimates has authorized a $153 million contract for the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) to procure new body-worn cameras, tasers, and other public safety equipment. This long-term agreement, spanning ten years, is with Axon Enterprise, a company that has partnered with the city for over a decade.
Despite the approval, some city officials expressed reservations regarding the decision-making process. City Council President Zeke Cohen voted against the contract, citing the absence of a competitive bidding process as a significant concern. Baltimore Comptroller Bill Henry also abstained from the vote, echoing Cohen's sentiments.
Cohen remarked on the importance of exploring market options to ensure the best deal for taxpayers. “A long-term sole-source contract has the challenge of it may well be the best deal we could have gotten, but it may not,” he stated.
The contract, which totals $153,217,966.56, includes features such as enhanced training through virtual reality and tools for real-time data tracking aimed at improving community safety. Derek Canton, the Chief Technology Officer for BPD, acknowledged that costs have risen over time due to an increase in services provided by Axon.
During the presentation, a city official defended the decision, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the existing system and the potential costs of switching to a new provider, including retooling processes and retraining officers.
In contrast, a representative from Motorola Solutions criticized the contract, suggesting that the city could save approximately $50 million by considering alternative options. Taxpayer advocate David Williams also highlighted the need for transparency through a competitive bidding process, arguing that it would allow the city to explore various solutions and potentially lower costs.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WBFF (source).
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