Tampa police select vendor for purchase of body cameras
TAMPA — The cameras weigh less than a typical police officer's badge. At the touch of a button, they can record for 12 hours straight. Soon, 60 officers will wear them on patrol in Tampa.
The Tampa Police Department has agreed to a five-year contract with Taser International for the purchase of 60 body-worn cameras. After reviewing bids from five companies, the department selected a proposal from Taser for an initial sum of about $83,000. The cost also includes the purchase of a digital evidence storage system to maintain video recordings.
Over five years, the city will pay $287,220 for the purchase and maintenance of the cameras and the video storage system. The purchase is scheduled to be reviewed by the City Council on Jan. 8. Police plan to begin outfitting officers with the cameras in February.
"I'm pretty sure they would like to get this up and running as soon as possible," said Gregory Spearman, the city's purchasing director.
Four other companies submitted bids for the contract in December. They were Mediasolv Solutions Corp., Digital Ally Inc., L3 Communications and Reveal Media.
Each proposal detailed costs for the purchase of both the initial 60 cameras and the projected amount to outfit all 750 officers who patrol the city. Taser's proposal was the most expensive.
Best known as the developer of the electroshock gun commonly used by law enforcement, Taser International has in recent years emerged as a leader in the market for body cameras.
The Arizona-based company touts the sale of more than 18,000 cameras to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Their customers have included police departments in Fort Worth, Texas; Albuquerque, N.M.; New Orleans; and Las Vegas.
They also provided cameras to the Rialto Police Department in California. A yearlong study in 2012 showed formal complaints against that department's officers fell 88 percent after the cameras were introduced. The department also saw a more than 50 percent reduction in use of force by officers, the study found.
In Tampa, officers will wear Taser's Axon Flex cameras, a tiny, durable model easily mounted to any part of an officer's uniform.
Officers will be unable to edit or delete videos, which will be marked with an unalterable time stamp. Once purchased, 20 cameras each will be distributed to Tampa's three police districts. Taser representatives will train officers on how to use them.
Questions remain about how the department will regulate camera use. It is unclear when officers will be required to turn them on, how long video recordings will be retained and whether recordings might be restricted on private property.
The department is drafting a standard operating procedure governing the use of the cameras, said spokeswoman Andrea Davis. The goal is to eventually have all of the city's 750 patrol officers wearing them.
"We already have many officers who are requesting the cameras," Davis said. "This is a pilot program. We're seeing how these 60 work and we'll make a plan after that."
Contact Dan Sullivan at dsullivan@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3386. Follow @TimesDan.
