TASER to supply body cameras to San Antonio Police Department

The San Antonio Police Department has contracted US-based TASER International to supply body cameras to maximise the safety of its officers.

Under the terms of the deal, TASER will deliver 2200 Axon Flex body cameras equipped with Axon Signal technology along with a five-year subscription with three optional one-year extensions to Evidence.com platform.

The cameras are slated to be delivered within 18 months with roughly 250 cameras scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of this year.

San Antonio Police Department chief William McManus said: "With today’s announcement to outfit all of our officers with body cameras, we are bringing a new level of trust and transparency to policing.

"Officer and community safety is our number one priority, but we’re also looking forward to documenting the positive work our officers are doing in our community every single day."

The Axon platform is expected to help the department seamlessly integrate software and hardware and bolster the capabilities.

TASER International founder and CEO Rick Smith: "The San Antonio Police Department is a technology leader in law enforcement and we couldn’t be more thrilled to work with them on making our Axon body-worn cameras standard issue for every officer in the force.

"Our body cameras and Evidence.com platform are providing new and innovative ways to maximize officer safety while enhancing the level of trust of citizens through the collection of video evidence."

According to a report by the San Diego Police Department, with the cameras under use, complaints, total allegations and use of force dropped by 41%, 60% and 47% respectively in the region.

Additionally, study conducted by University of South Florida at the Orlando Police Department revealed 53% reduction in use of force and 65% drop in civilian complaints upon using Axon body cameras.

Recently, the company received a series of similar contracts from various police departments across the US including Wichita Police Department, Parker Police Department and the White Plains Police Department.