Committee to hear latest information on potential police technology purchases – Pasadena Now

The city's Police Oversight Board will receive updates from the Pasadena Police Department on potential new technology purchases and related policies, including Axon products and helicopter searchlights.

The agenda for this item did not include a staff report. According to a contact from city officials, pasadena now No staff report or document on this item had been sent to the majority of the committee on Wednesday.

Big-ticket items must be approved by the city council.

It's unclear what potential purchases will come before the committee, but the staff report is not on the agenda and the department has already purchased several Axon Enterprises products, including body-worn cameras and Tasers. Or are you using it?

In 2021, the City Council passed amendments to the police body-worn camera contract with Axon, directing officials to also consider a trial period for new body-worn camera technology.

This expansion included upgrades to the latest Axon cameras and docking stations. Additional upgrades to the latest camera in 2 and a half years. Full 5 year warranty on service and replacement. 10 GB of additional storage per camera is available on Evidence.com for digital media not created on Axon devices.

This contract amendment does not include an attachment that would allow Axon's body-worn camera to automatically activate when the firearm is removed from its holster, which would allow the body-worn camera to be activated in the event of a critical incident. is guaranteed to work reliably.

This accessory costs an additional $62,000.

However, the ministry later tested the attachment on a trial basis.

Activist groups, including the ACLU, have denounced police use of technology such as automatic license plate readers and helicopter cameras.

The use of technology in law enforcement continues to expand. The department is currently using the ShotSpotter system to triangulate gunshots and speed response times to gunfire, automatic license plate readers, and body-worn cameras.

Last month, the City Council approved a $563,357 contract with Rotorcraft Support to purchase Wescam MX-10 cameras and install them on police helicopters.

The department recently began using cell site simulator technology.

However, there are oversights regarding the department's purchases and equipment.

The department must annually submit a military equipment report to the City Council and request permission to continue using each item in its inventory.

Other laws have also been passed to ensure transparency of body-worn camera footage.

A state law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2018 requires footage of critical incidents to be released within 45 days.

The Pasadena Police Department launched a body-worn camera program in 2016.

The department has uploaded more than 1 million items of evidence, including videos, audio recordings and documents, to Axon Enterprise's secure cloud-based digital evidence management system platform, Evidence.com, according to a city staff report.

The meeting begins Thursday at 6 p.m.