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Davenport To Consider Half-Million Dollar Contract For Police Body Cameras

Mariah Woelfel/WVIK

The Davenport Police Department is pushing for a $550,000 contract with a law enforcement technology company in a bid to buy 150 body cameras.

Police departments throughout the country have been investing in the tool in the wake of national uproar over numerous police-involved shootings. 

After a year-long search that included interviews, test-runs, and demonstrations, the department is recommending Axon, a company formerly known as TASER International that has made stun guns since 1993, to provide body cameras for its 163-officer force.

Axon says its cameras are used by over half of the country's major police departments, according to an article by NPR

The company renamed and rebranded itself in April, offering a year-long free trial of its body camera pack to any police department interested. 

"Our mission to protect life endures, but we're going about it in new ways—," the company's website says, "with Smart Weapons that protect life in the moment of conflict, cameras that depict the truth and help prevent civil unrest, and automated reporting and evidence management that will triple the amount of time officers can spend serving their communities."
The proposed contract includes 150 body cameras, charging equipment, maintenance and cloud-based date storage for video footage. Axon beat out nine other companies to get the recommendation.  

Aldermen will consider the proposal on Wednesday night.