BODY-WORN CAMERA REPLACEMENT FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT
In 2018, The City Council approved the purchase of body-worn cameras (BWCs) for all sworn police officers. The cameras were last replaced/updated in 2022 and continue to be a vital tool for the police officers and the Ames community. The cameras were originally made by WatchGuard, which is now part of Motorola Solutions, Inc.
The 2022 purchase included a 3-year no-fault warranty, and although the warranty has expired, the officers have had minimal operational issues with the cameras until recently. The cameras now need replacement as repairs are becoming more difficult to complete. As an example, when a battery fails, the entire unit must be sent in at a cost of approximately $500 to service and replace. The expected life of the cameras is three to four years, which is common for BWCs.
To maintain the continuity of the WatchGuard/Motorola BWC system, staff is proposing a single-source purchase with Motorola. The State of Iowa has a cooperative purchase agreement with Motorola for the purchase of the BWCs. With the assistance from Purchasing, a proposal from Motorola for replacement BWCs was reviewed and staff determined it is based on the best possible available pricing. Motorola offers a five-year agreement, which includes device license and support. The contract total for 63 new V700 cameras, including the five-year support, is $76,608. City policies require that a single source purchase in this amount be approved by the City Council.
The five-year support includes a no-fault warranty for cameras. The warranty states that if any of the cameras fail for any reason (including battery failure or damage from a dropped device), Motorola will replace them at no cost during the five-year period.
Funding for this purchase is available in the current year’s budget through the IT computer replacement account. Funds have been set aside from the regular computer replacement funds to cover the replacement costs of the BWCs. There is a balance of $137,035 in the account to finance this purchase. The existing BWCs are not expected to provide any salvage value, but staff will explore opportunities to offer them to other law enforcement agencies.
- Approve a single source purchase to Motorola Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $76,608 for the purchase of 63 Body-Worn Cameras for the Police Department, including a five-year service agreement.
- Do not approve the purchase of body-worn cameras.
Both the public and police officers have come to expect the use of body-worn cameras by police officers. The current body-worn cameras are experiencing increased failures and the cost to service them is approaching the replacement cost to purchase new cameras with warranties. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as described above.