New body and car cameras for the Bartholomew County Sheriff Department are expected to arrive during the first half of October.
The Bartholomew County Commissioners gave their conditional approval Thursday to supply the deputies with 57 body cameras and 54 car cameras, all manufactured by AXON Enterprise, Inc. of Scottsdale, Arizona.
“This is an issue that I have supported since (taking office) in 2015,” Sheriff Matt Myers said in a news release. “I believed this project was a top priority.”
The final acceptance of the bid is subject to county attorney Grant Tucker’s approval of both the contract and the payment schedule, commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said.
When only two bids were received on Aug. 17, it appeared that another company, WatchGuard Video Solutions of Allen, Texas, had submitted a proposal that would cost $45,523 less than Axon’s bid.
But on Thursday, commissioners chairman Carl Lienhoop said WatchGuard “did not quite meet the specs that were necessary.” That had established last month when county attorney Grant Tucker noted that the WatchGuard equipment was not what the county had requested.
In addition, when various options and all related factors are considered, the total bid of $732,007 from AXON is about $3,000 lower that what was submitted by WatchGuard, Bartholomew County Sheriff Department Sgt. Jim Stevens said.
One of the options chosen by the county allowed AXON to drop $6,000 from their bid, Stevens said.
Besides price, both Myers and the county commissioners have provided several other reasons why they prefer AXON that Lienhoop outlined.
For example, the Arizona company will provide replacements for all body cameras and cameras at two and a half years and at five years at no additional charge. In contrast, WatchGuard only provided an option to replace outdated cameras that would require additional money, Stevens said.
The equipment being provided by AXON will integrate with Bartholomew County’s information technology system, Lienhoop said. From a technical perspective, county information technology director Scott Mayes told the commissioners he also supports the AXON bid, which also includes staff training and full warranties.
In contrast, Watchguard was unable to provide any cameras that could be used on a trial basis that would have allowed the county to check for compatibility, Lienhoop said.
According to several county officials, one of the most significant advantages AXON provides is the ability to upload their video and sound into an off-site storage system from the patrol cars, instead of having to manually upload them after every shift in the sheriff’s department.
Not only is the AXON system already being used by the Columbus Police Department, but the office of Bartholomew County Prosecutor Bill Nash also has access to stored AXON data, Lienhoop said.
Having all local officers and the prosecutor utilizing the same vendor allows deputies to seamlessly share videos, which Myers says is crucial as agencies work several investigations together and deal with many of the same suspects.
The final advantage brought up during Thursday’s meeting was that AXON will be able to deliver the cameras in within the next 30 to 45 days, Chief Deputy Sheriff Maj. Chris Lane said. Watchguard told the county they would need at least three months, Lienhoop said.
Funds from the county commissioners’ budget will pay for the first year’s payment of $224,238, Bartholomew County Auditor Pia O’Connor said. While that money was part of an already-approved appropriation for courthouse renovations, the commissioners decided early this year they would delay making the courthouse upgrades until after this year.
Beginning in 2021, the county will have to make annual payments of $127,000 for the next four years for the AXON equipment. While riverboat gambling tax revenues will be used to finance next year’s payment, O’Connor said the Bartholomew County Council will decide later which funds will be used to make further payments.
Myers has frequently thanked his fellow elected officials since the council and commissioners both agreed to purchase the cameras on July 14.
“I also want to thank the many citizens and community leaders who voiced their support of this project,” Myers stated after Thursday’s vote. “Your voices, along with our deputies who also voiced strong support, make this a win-win for our community.”
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Dec. 31, 2014: On the day he was sworn into office, Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers reveals he is preparing to have six deputies equipped with body cameras on a trial basis.
March, 2015: When the Columbus Police Dept. agree to equip their officers with body cameras, Myers and his staff approach elected county officials to begin formally advocating for the same type of equipment.
June, 2016: Myers announces he is prepared to ask for $500,000 to purchase 30 body cameras, as well as replacement communication radios.
April, 2017: The sheriff’s department reveals they found unacceptable glitches in the body cameras they are testing.
Dec., 2017: Sheriff’s Dept. uses money from the county’s telecommunications fund to obtain radios only. County commissioner Larry Kleinhenz tells Myers he’s convinced technology will provide a better and more affordable body camera system in the near future.
Jan., 2018 – April, 2020: Body cameras are rarely discussed as Myers and his staff focus on building upgrades, reopening an older section of the jail, and establishing addiction treatment services for inmates.
June, 2020: Myers publicly announces he will make the purchase of body and car cameras for his deputies a “non-negotiable” priority for this year.
July, 2020: With already allocated funds originally earmarked for courthouse exterior work, the county council agrees to the purchase of 57 body and 54 car cameras.
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