PEORIA (25News Now) – The Peoria City Council has unanimously agreed to pay a technology firm almost $13.8 million over five years to receive the latest public safety tools, including a Drone as First Responder program.
Arizona-based Axon has been doing business with the city since the early 2000s, supplying police with tasers, body-worn cameras, data storage software and other equipment.
This latest deal has Axon selling Peoria about two dozen drones and a network of drone docks around the city, with the airborne vehicles arriving on scenes before officers.
Police pledge the drones will only be sent out to service calls, or as at-large Council Member Mike Vespa said, they won’t randomly look inside people’s homes.
Police Chief Brad Dixon said a drone in the downtown area will be equipped with a life preserver for river rescues.
Axon’s “premium” package includes virtual reality for officers’ training to help them work with people with autism or schizophrenia, plus AI for writing police reports.
The city is buying 241 new body-warn cameras, 253 tasers, 91 in-car cameras, 12 interview room cameras, and unlimited data storage.
Mayor Rita Ali said the council accomplished its “due diligence” duties during a lengthy question-and-answer session with police. The mayor acknowledged this is an “expensive” package.
Chief Dixon said the main goal is “safer outcomes” for officers and the community.
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