DEERFIELD, IL — With a law requiring that police departments implement body-worn cameras about to go into effect, the Deerfield Police Department will be ready to abide on Jan. 1, 2025.
Following the passage of the Illinois SAFE-T Act in July 2023, all police departments in the state are now required to purchase body-worn cameras for their officers. In December 2023, the Deerfield Village Board unanimously approved the purchase of 43 of these cameras from Arizona-based Axon, a company specializing in the development of technology and weapons products for military, law enforcement, and civilians. Along with relevant equipment, the price tag for the cameras was nearly $400,000.
On Monday, the board approved an additional camera from Axon, as well as six licenses for evidence.com. The Lake County States Attorney’s office currently only accepts digital evidence through the website, as supplied by Axon, which is the sole storage location for the body-worn cameras. Deerfield Police Chief John J. Sliozos said the additional licenses are for the department’s IT staff.
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RELATED: Village Board Approves $370K Cost Of Police Body Cameras In Deerfield
“The Deerfield Police Department recognizes that trust and mutual respect between the department and our community is imperative,” Sliozis said last year. “The ability to protect and serve with integrity is essential to our criminal justice system.”
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Sliozis said officer-worn cameras will provide state-of-the-art evidence collection, impartial evidence and documentation to settle disputes and allegations of misconduct.
As he did last year, Sliozis was seeking a non-competitive bidding process for the purchase of the camera from Axon and licenses. The cost of the additional camera is $7,927.23, $13,232.16 for the licenses, all to be paid over the course of four years, according to Sliozis.
The initial payment for the cameras approved last year was $250,000, which was budgeted for Fiscal Year 2024. Officials said the payment was to be reimbursed through a grant provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity.
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