Council To Consider $825,780 Body Camera Bid

The Cookeville Police Department will request later this week to purchase 60 body cameras for $825,780.

Chief Randy Evans said the new Axon system will provide unlimited cloud-based storage for recorded videos.

“We also included an activation trigger in our bid specs,” Evans said. “So, when the officer removes the taser from the holster the body camera will activate. If the officer removes their sidearm from their holster it will activate the camera system as well. Under stress, if the officer forgets to activate those it would do that automatically.”

Cookeville City Council will consider approving the purchase during Thursday’s city council meeting.

Evans said the current body camera system has reached the end of its life cycle. City Attorney Dan Radar called the system a leap forward in terms of law enforcement technology.

“This system is really superior,” Radar said. “It’s very user-friendly if we end up having to go to court.”

Evans said the current body camera system has reached the end of its life cycle. If approved, the city will pay the total purchase price over a period of five years. A Department of Justice grant will cover a portion the total cost.