Thurston County Sheriff mulls getting new interconnected camera, taser system 

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office (TCSO) is considering subscribing to a new technology system bundle from supplier Axon to replace deputies' body cameras, in-car cameras, and tasers. 

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said at a meeting yesterday, October 28, that the new plan would replace the current Getac system, which posed challenges in starting up and downloading. 

Sanders explained that the current system was chosen because it was the lowest bidder and offered the lowest-quality product on the market for the cheapest cost. 

"That has kind of left us in a tough spot. The first issue, and maybe the biggest issue that I have, is that the cameras are failing at times. They're failing to activate, they're failing to automatically come on," said Sanders. 

Public scrutiny on this system is that it is better not to have a camera at all than to have one that is not activated, said Sanders. 

The current Getac system also requires every single entity— the TCSO, prosecution, and public defense— to download the video of the footage individually. 

"That causes significant backup times for court. Once again, we find ourselves in a scenario where it would be better not to have cameras at all than to have courts sit here with evidence that can't be accessed. You're just better off not having footage at all," said Sanders. 

Sanders also said that it is standard for body camera and dash-camera technologies to always record, and when one pushes the button, it begins capturing 30 seconds ahead of time with no audio. 

"The cameras that we have are too cheap. The batteries don't last. So in order to keep that function going, we were having deputies charge their cameras two to three times per ten-hour shift," Sanders said. 

The problem with this method is that when deputies leave the cameras to charge on the docking station, they sometimes leave their cameras behind once they run off to respond to incidents.  

New system 

The proposed Axon system is a bundle of connected technology—Body 4 body-worn cameras, Fleet 3 in-car cameras, and Taser 10. The full system is estimated to cost the county $562,652 annually. 

Sanders said that the Axon ecosystem best suits TCSO's needs because none of the issues mentioned were ever associated with it. 

Sanders added that Axon is a lease-to-own system unlike the current one, which must be replaced after the technology becomes outdated. In this type of system, TCSO pays the premium, and the supplier keeps sending the newest version as part of the overall cost. 

TCSO has about $700,000 to $800,000 set aside for cameras through the Equipment Rental and Revolving (ER&R) Fund and another $400,000 for tasers. 

TCSO will receive a discount from Axon, as Sanders said, if the board agrees on Axon Justice, a new digital evidence management system for prosecution and defense.  

TCSO is considering offering around 100 units of Body 4 body-worn cameras, with 14-8 bay docking stations around the county.  

These cameras and the docking stations also have unlimited storage and would be refreshed within 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 years.  

For the Fleet 3 in-car cameras, 100 cars will be fitted with two cameras each. With unlimited storage, the system will not use the air card inserted into laptops but an innovation called Cradlepoint, which has its internet independent of the laptop. 

These cameras will be refreshed every five to 10 years on a 10-year contract proposed by Axon. 

The body-worn cameras come with a redaction assistant technology, Evidence.com, which stores digital evidence such as video footage, photos, and other items. 

TCSO is also considering purchasing around 100 units of Taser 10, which come with batteries, docking stations, warranties, and annual deputies' training. Tasers are refreshed every five years.