Police chief seeks 10‑year Axon contract for cameras, drones and Taser upgrades; council delays decision for public outreach

Police Chief Joseph Daryus told the Glenwood Springs City Council on May 1 that the city’s public‑safety technology should migrate to a bundled 10‑year contract with Axon, the vendor that supplies body cameras, evidence cloud services and related hardware.

Daryus presented the package as an integrated suite that would include body‑worn cameras, automated redaction tools, AI‑assisted report drafting, an automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) “outpost” system to replace the city’s existing Flock cameras, Taser‑10 devices and a drone‑first‑responder system housed in rooftop “hives.” He said the current Motorola body‑camera contract costs roughly $40,000 a year and that the Axon bundle would lock pricing over a decade and absorb other operating costs, such as redaction and translation services.

“The speed‑camera revenue has generated just over $1 million for the first six months,” Daryus said, adding that outstanding fines were “in the neighborhood of $600,000.” He argued that Axon’s cloud service would reduce staff time spent on video redaction and provide live translation in more than 100 languages, saving money on translation lines and clerical effort.

Daryus described operational features he said would improve officer safety and evidence capture: an automatic sidearm sensor that activates body cameras when an officer draws a weapon, AI‑assisted report drafting that produces a reviewable draft for officers and supervisors, and a drone system that can be airborne within two minutes with infrared capability for night operations. He cited a recent local stabbing as an example where a rapid drone launch could have helped locate fleeing suspects.

Councilors pressed staff on procurement and control of data. Several members asked whether individual elements (for example, the ALPR/outpost cameras or drones) could be excluded from the contract if the community objected, whether future technology upgrades were covered, and how the city would enforce controls on access to video and other records. City legal staff said the proposed contract allows parsing of elements and reflects cooperative contracting vehicles (Sourcewell/NASPO) that remove the need for a separate RFP; the contract also includes non‑appropriation language and provisions for customer control of uploaded content.

Several councilors said the item required more public engagement. “I think there should be public comment, a public‑information period before we move on,” one councilor said. Another urged that, if the resolution is to return, it be placed on the regular agenda rather than consent so the community has an opportunity to comment.

Mayor Pro Tim Sinsky moved to approve Resolution 2026‑09 (a sole‑source procurement for body cameras and related technology); the motion was seconded. After additional discussion about outreach and timing, the mover withdrew the motion and the council took no formal action. City staff said they intend to bring a formal resolution back at the first meeting in June with additional public education and a clearer agenda placement.

What’s next: The council will revisit the proposed Axon contract at the next regular meeting; staff and legal will provide contract language, a breakdown of costs, and planned public‑information steps before the item returns for formal action.