LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night in favor of the proposal to upgrade the police department’s body-worn camera system with a five-year service contract that will cost about $100,000.

The Lakeport Police Department has been using body-worn and in-car audio/video devices, often referred to as BWC and MAV, respectively, from the company Waterguard as their vendor since 2006.

Motorola Solutions Inc. acquired the company in 2019 and will “no longer support our current system,” Police Chief Dale Stoebe said in his presentation at the council meeting.

While the police department will continue to use the current MAV, it began to review upgrade options on BWC in early 2024.

This week, Stoebe proposed to the city to engage in a five-year service contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. paid in annual installments which will cost a total of $99,892.35 over five years with a first year expense at $27,728.37.

Some of the contract benefits include 12 body-worn cameras with access to evidence library services, wireless transfer hardware, and accidental damage coverage. It also includes a refresh of all BWC devices in the third year and an $8,500 credit for turning in the department’s current Waterguard devices.

The agreement does not include any new mobile audio/video, or MAV, devices — in-car cameras in the police vehicles. MAV units can be purchased separately at about $11,000 each.

Stoebe mentioned another option they had considered but dropped, also from Motorola Solutions Inc. — the city may purchase equipment and services from the company as needed instead of entering a five-year contract. That would cost $103,077.74 for wireless transfer hardware with a year-one service subscription, plus $9,000 for each new body-worn camera.

Stoebe concluded that the five-year service contract option was “the most financially prudent option.”

Stoebe acknowledged that continuing using the current MAV and BWC equipment remains an option to save costs. “However, the lifespan of both the equipment and software is uncertain,” he said, adding that it would present “significant risks” as outdated MAV and BWC systems may result in increased legal, administrative and training costs, reduced public trust and negative impact on prosecution of criminal offenses.

Mayor poses questions about proposed contract, existing equipment

After Stoebe’s presentation, Lakeport Mayor Michael Froio asked if the department’s current MAV devices are still in good shape, out of the context that the proposed contract does not include any new MAV units.

“I believe so,” Stoebe responded, explaining that unlike the MAV that stays in the car, the BWC is the “workhorse” that wears out faster as it’s “exposed to the elements” — the heat and cold, the rains and occasional snows.

“Also they are worn by an officer conducting their work and sometimes they take a fair amount of brutality in that work,” Stoebe added. “That’s why they tend to be the ones that fail first.”

“I have a smile on my face tonight so don’t worry,” Froio said. “I like your approach that you’re looking to reuse as much of the equipment as we can.”

Froio has been a firm proponent of city staff bringing multiple bids for contracts, whether it be for equipment purchases or consulting services.

He then went on to ask why Motorola Solutions Inc. appeared to be the only bid in Stoebe’s presentation. “Should we have in the future looked at other systems?” Froio asked.

“It’s not that we have not looked at other bids,” Stoebe responded.

“We have solicited both Axon and Lenslock for bids for various elements,” Stoebe said of the two other major BWC and MAV makers besides Motorola Solutions Inc.. But those bidding prices were not included in Stoebe’s presentation.

“It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison,” Stoebe said of the technology involved. “There are just a lot of complexities in presenting multiple bids.”

Stoebe also suggested that it’s better to “stay with one platform” for all devices than to have two platforms. Since the current Waterguard MAC integrates easily with Motorola Solutions,

He said that to be the best stewards of the taxpayers money, the city should continue to use the MAV equipment until it fails. Stoebe also implied that it’s best to use the BWC from the same company rather than getting it from a separate vendor.

In response to Froio’s question, Stoebe also mentioned that Axon is the leader in the industry, which is reflected in their high bidding prices — $101,183.58 just for body cameras, another $150,651 for MAVs and they require onboard computers in the police vehicles that will incur extra costs.

“You’re doing a good job,” said Froio.

Stoebe also mentioned that body-worn cameras are standard in California and “definitely a hiring and retention concern.”

The Lakeport Police Department now has 12 officers including the chief, one short of full staff, Stoebe told Lake County News later in a phone call. Two more officers are going to leave the department by the end of the year, he said.

During public comment, Lakeport Police Officers’ Association President Todd Freitas spoke against a “bifurcated system.”

“As somebody that has to respond to quite literal life and death situations, me being able to touch one thing and have all my whole system work is invaluable to having critical decision making,” Freitas said.

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