Title
An Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 182 Axon Body 4 Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 45 Axon Fleet 3 In-Car Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 182 Taser 10, four (4) Skydio X10 drones, Prepared 911 software, Axon Assistant software, Unlimited Axon Storage (digital evidence), Unlimited Third-Party Storage (digital evidence), CAD/RMS Auto-Tagging, Axon Respond software, Redaction Assistant software, Community Request (public evidence submission), Axon Investigate (iNPUT-ACE), Axon Auto-Transcribe, Data Migration Services, and nine (9) Axon Interview Room (w/hardware refreshment) through the use of an approved sole-source and authorizing the City Manager to execute all related and necessary documents for the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri.
(Note: First read by Council on March 10, 2026.)
Body
Issue/Request:
An Ordinance authorizing the purchase 182 Axon Body 4 Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 45 Axon Fleet 3 In-Car Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 182 Taser 10, four (4) Skydio X10 drones, Prepared 911 software, Axon Assistant software, Unlimited Axon Storage (digital evidence), Unlimited Third-Party Storage (digital evidence), CAD/RMS Auto-Tagging, Axon Respond software, Redaction Assistant software, Community Request (public evidence submission), Axon Investigate (iNPUT-ACE), Axon Auto-Transcribe, Data Migration Services, and nine (9) Axon Interview Room (w/hardware refreshment) through the use of an approved sole-source and authorizing the City Manager to execute all related and necessary documents.
Key Issues:
Ordering this bundle of equipment, software, and services through the approved sole-source is the most cost-effective and practical method to secure all items and ensure full compatibility and integration with future Lee's Summit Police Department Real-Time Crime Center configuration, maintain evidence chain-of-custody integrity, and avoid risks associated with incompatible or non-proprietary alternatives.
Funding has been identified for the purchase of this bundle in the City Council approved Police PSERP FY26 Budget and the approved FY26 Public Safety Sales Tax Fund. The last four years of this contract will be funded by the current Police PSERP annual payment amortization and the Public Safety Sales Tax Fund. The total contract price is $5,485,000 over five years.
Proposed Committee Motion:
FIRST MOTION: I move for second reading of an Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 182 Axon Body 4 Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 45 Axon Fleet 3 In-Car Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 182 Taser 10, four (4) Skydio X10 drones, Prepared 911 software, Axon Assistant software, Unlimited Axon Storage (digital evidence), Unlimited Third-Party Storage (digital evidence), CAD/RMS Auto-Tagging, Axon Respond software, Redaction Assistant software, Community Request (public evidence submission), Axon Investigate (iNPUT-ACE), Axon Auto-Transcribe, Data Migration Services, and nine (9) Axon Interview Room (w/hardware refreshment) through the use of an approved sole-source and authorizing the City Manager to execute all related and necessary documents for the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri.
SECOND MOTION: I move for approval an Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 182 Axon Body 4 Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 45 Axon Fleet 3 In-Car Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 182 Taser 10, four (4) Skydio X10 drones, Prepared 911 software, Unlimited Axon Storage (digital evidence), Unlimited Third-Party Storage (digital evidence), Redaction Assistant software, Community Request (public evidence submission), Axon Investigate (iNPUT-ACE), Axon Auto-Transcribe, Data Migration Services, and nine (9) Axon Interview Room (w/hardware refreshment) through the use of an approved sole-source and authorizing the City Manager to execute all related and necessary documents for the City of Lee's Summit, Missouri.
Background:
Since 2020, the Police Department has relied on Watchguard (now Motorola) cameras and a city-owned server for video storage. Initial purchases were funded through a No Tax Increase Bond and a one-time federal grant. While a five-year maintenance agreement for body-worn cameras and a ten-year agreement for in-car/interview room systems initially reduced costs, those contracts have now begun to end. The department now stands to incur significant annual licensing fees for outdated equipment, high repair costs for out-of-warranty devices, and face significant limitations in video storage capacity. To comply with State Retention requirements, video must be compressed due to server capacity, reducing quality and evidentiary value.
Axon Assistant and Prepared 911 software will provide real-time language translation for emergency dispatchers and officers in the field. Current practices rely on call-in translation services, which have limited success, reliability, and require valuable time. Lee's Summit has a school district with more than 100 recognized dialects. Additionally, our metro area is expected to host hundreds of thousands of guests during the 2026 summer months for FIFA World Cup soccer events. The contract includes this technology will be available to all emergency dispatchers and officers prior to the World Cup event.
The Police Department has a robust drone program. The current platform is a Chinese-made DJI product. Current tariff and trade restrictions prevent the purchase of any additional DJI drones or parts. Skydio is a U.S. made drone product line owned by Axon. The product's capabilities, reliability, and availability make it the top U.S. made option for the Lee's Summit Police Department drone program. Additionally, all drone video evidence will be stored in the Unlimited Axon Storage vault.
Interoperability with neighboring agencies is vital during large-scale events and critical incidents. Many of our neighboring and regional partners use the same Axon products. Those partners include, but are not limited to, the Independence Police Department, Overland Park Police Department, Leawood Police Department, Kansas City Police Department, Raymore Police Department, Shawnee Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff's Department, Springfield Police Department, and the Gardner Police Department.
Section 4 of the Procurement Policy requires City Council approval to use contracts where the anticipated annual spend is $75,000 or more.
Presenter
John Boenker, Police Department
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of an Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 182 Axon Body 4 Cameras (w/hardeware refreshments/upgrades), 45 Axon Fleet 3 In-Car Cameras (w/hardware refreshments/upgrades), 182 Taser 10, four (4) Skydio X10 drones, Prepared 911 software, Unlimited Axon Storage (digital evidence), Unlimited Third-Party Storage (digitial evidence), Redaction Assistant software, Community Request (public evidence submission), Axon Investigate (iNPUT-ACE), Axon Auto-Transcribe, Data Migration Services, and nine (9) Axon Interview Room (w/hardware refreshment) through the use of an approved sole-source and authorizing the City Manager to execute all related and necessary documents.
Committee Recommendation