TO: LINDA REICH, CITY MANAGER
FROM: KEVIN MENSEN, CHIEF OF POLICE
SUBJECT
title
Federal Asset Forfeiture - Agreement with Axon Enterprise.
end
RECOMMENDATION
1) Establish Federal Grant Number G4271; 2) approve an agreement with Axon Enterprise Inc. for the purchase of the Axon Basic with Full AI 5-year agreement in the amount of $4,464,008.92, amortized over 5 years; 3) appropriate $699,495.18 from the fund balance of the Asset Forfeiture/Department of Justice Fund 120 and $100,000 from the fund balance of the Asset Forfeiture/Department of Treasury Fund 121, for the first-year cost of $799,495.18; and 4) authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents on behalf of the City.
body
FISCAL IMPACT
Requires a first-year appropriation of $799,495.18, funded from the Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund 120 ($699,495.18) and the Federal Asset Forfeiture/Department of Treasury Fund 121 ($100,000). These funds were received and recorded in prior fiscal years and have sufficient fund balance for this purpose.
The cost for subsequent years of the agreement will be incorporated into future budget cycles as follows, contingent upon each fiscal year’s budget adoption:
FY 27-28/Year 2: $873,952.46
FY 28-29/Year 3: $906,238.64
FY 29-30/Year 4: $939,948.23
FY 30-31/Year 5: $944,374.41
CITY OF CHINO MISSION / VISION / VALUES / STRATEGIC ISSUES
The recommendation detailed above further the City’s values and strategic issues that serve as key pillars on which identified priorities, goals, and action plans are built, by fostering:
• Superior Customer Service
• Responsible Long-Range Planning
• Public Service Excellence through Internal and External Partnerships
• Effective Technology
|
Revenue: Click or tap here to enter text. |
Expenditure: 12040002-40010-G4271 12140002-40010-G4271 |
|
Transfer In: Click or tap here to enter text. |
Transfer Out: Click or tap here to enter text. |
BACKGROUND
For several years, the Chino Police Department has actively participated in investigations or prosecutions that resulted in federal forfeiture. As a result, the City receives an equitable share of the net proceeds. Forfeiture funds are designated exclusively for law enforcement purposes and must supplement existing resources, not replace them.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
The Chino Police Department remains committed to providing officers with reliable, effective, and modern technology necessary to meet the evolving demands of public safety. As community expectations, technology, and legal requirements continue to change, it is important that the Department maintains tools that improve officer safety, increase transparency, enhance efficiency, and support top-tier service to the community.
The proposed agreement with Axon Enterprise represents a comprehensive technology upgrade across several critical public safety platforms. Rather than replacing individual systems separately over time, this agreement provides an integrated ecosystem that combines body-worn cameras, less-lethal devices, evidence management, AI-assisted reporting tools, dispatch technology, and digital evidence processing into a single platform.
A key component of the agreement is the advanced technological upgrades to the currently used Axon Body 4 body-worn camera system. Body-worn cameras have become an essential tool for evidence collection, accountability, and transparency. The technology upgrades to the Axon Body 4 introduce advanced features, including real-time translation, live-streaming capabilities, and AI-assisted report preparation tools designed to improve documentation and reduce administrative workload. The agreement also includes access to future Axon technology enhancements throughout the life of the contract, ensuring the Department continues to benefit from advancing technology without requiring additional major investments.
The contract also helps ensure compliance with evolving legal requirements, including Senate Bill 524 related to AI-generated police reports. Axon includes the required safeguards and audit trail capabilities to maintain transparency and compliance.
The proposed contract also upgrades all sworn personnel from the TASER 7 to the TASER 10 platform. The TASER 10 represents one of the most significant advancements in less-lethal technology in over a decade. The new system extends the effective range to 45 feet and addresses one of the most common causes of TASER deployment failure by increasing deployment effectiveness and improving officer safety.
Additionally, the agreement includes Prepared, an AI-assisted dispatch system designed to improve communication during emergency incidents. The contract also adds AI-assisted video redaction software that will help streamline processing of public records requests. Last year alone, the Department processed more than 7,500 public records requests, many of which required significant staff time for review and redaction. These tools are expected to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens on personnel.
This agreement is recommended as a sole source procurement because the Chino Police Department currently uses Axon technology, and the proposed agreement provides continuity with the Department’s existing body-worn camera, TASER, evidence management, and related public safety technology platforms. Using Axon allows the Department to maintain compatibility with existing systems, preserve officer training consistency, avoid disruption to digital evidence workflows, and continue using an integrated public safety technology ecosystem.
A City Council Study Session regarding this matter took place on March 10, 2026.
Based on our analysis, staff recommends that the City Council allocate $799,495.18 from the Federal Asset Forfeiture Funds 120 and 121 for year one of this contract.
Attachments:
Axon Master Services and Purchasing Agreement (MSPA)
Axon Outpost Scope of Work
Axon Quote
Axon Sole Source Letter