Free Body Camera Offer Good For Everyone But LAPD

You know that feeling you get when your bank or cable company offers a great deal to new customers that you don't qualify for because you're already a customer? The Los Angeles Police Department knows how you feel.

Last year, Los Angeles agreed to buy $32 million worth of police body cameras from Taser. And now the company is offering a free body camera and support services to every police officer in the country for a one-year trial. But the offer doesn't apply to departments such as the LAPD that already have contracts.

Department officials Tuesday concluded that the offer by Taser, which last week changed its name to Axon, will not affect the LAPD's existing contract to purchase equipment from the firm, department officials said Tuesday. However, city and company officials insist Los Angeles still comes out on top.

Los Angeles signed a five-year contract with the company in 2016 to purchase more than 6,100 body cameras along with supporting equipment and software. LAPD Cmdr. Regina Scott told the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners Tuesday the department received a 40 percent discount as well as a free trial from Axon during its testing period.

"This national trial does not impact our contract whatsoever," Scott said.

Scott also said the contract has a "favored nations" clause, and if another department does get a better deal, the LAPD can renegotiate the terms of its agreement.

Her comments mirrored that of Axon, which also said other departments are not getting a better deal.

"The city of Los Angeles received discounts, including free cameras, that are greater than the equivalent value of the offer we have made for year- long field trials," said Steve Tuttle, vice president of strategic communications for Axon. "We have affirmed in our contract with the city that the LAPD's negotiated terms are as good or better than any other agency will receive."

LAPD's plan to have all patrol officers wearing cameras will cost about $59 million, including $27 million coming from the contract it signed with Axon last year and $4 million from a 2014 contract with the company.

Axon's announcement, which made headlines around the country last week, also came with an offer of free software, data storage, training and support to police departments for one year.

As of March 22, 2,794 cameras have been provided to LAPD officers in the field, and 1.1 million videos have been produced, according to a recent LAPD report.

The department is aiming to have all of its estimated 7,000 patrol officers equipped with cameras by the end of the year. When the department signed its contract with Axon last June, it already had more than 800 cameras it was using.

City News Service and Patch staffer contributed to this report. Photo: (Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press)