Stun-gun and police body camera maker Axon unveiled a new design of its signature taser device last year, and the Mesa Police Department wants to trade out its existing tasers for the new “Taser 10.”

Assistant Chief Ed Wessing told council members that 28% of taser deployments in Mesa fail, when one probe misses or can’t penetrate clothing. In 2023, officers used the tasers 809 times.

Heredia noted the current backlog of public records requests for body cam video, leading to estimated wait times of over two years. The department has blamed the delay in part on difficulty of redacting protected personal information from audio and video.

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Wessing said Taser 10 “has a potential to be a game changer for our officers in the field. … It creates more time and space to de-escalate some of these conflicts that our officers face.”

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At Monday’s council meeting, the city will consider a five-year body camera and taser contract with Axon that’s 112% higher than the five-year previous contract, which Mesa is terminating early.

Taser 10, Mesa PD’s main justification for ending the existing multi-year contract early and adopting the higher contract, works slightly differently than the department’s existing tasers, which fire two probes simultaneously at a subject when the officer pulls the trigger – one straight and one at a slight downward angle.

The latest proposed increase comes after a 60% increase in Mesa’s contract for cameras and long-range stun guns last year, and it’s at a time when Axon is dealing with accusations of anticompetitive practices that are inflating costs for police departments across the country.

Axon claims the individual probes fly more accurately, penetrate clothes more effectively and reach greater distances than previous iterations of the device.

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“As a result, the device has evolved significantly over the years, becoming more effective, accountable and safe,” the spokesperson said. “We offer various pricing models which may span multiple years, with contract renewals often consolidating multiple contracts and a range of products and services … Our pricing strategy balances affordability with the need for continuous innovation and we work closely with agencies to ensure we meet their budgetary needs.”

Following the dismissal, three municipal police departments picked up the mantle and filed suits against the company in October, alleging that anti-competitive practices have led to higher prices for police.

In a statement, the Scottsdale-based company said that it invested $100 million in research and development in 2021 and 2022.

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Wessing said the technology is not there yet to fix the problem, but the new contract includes three account managers who can assist with reducing the public records backlog.

Axon has confronted allegations that its prices are rising due to having a monopoly and engaging in anti-competitive practices. In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint after the company bought its largest body camera competitor in 2018.

“Oh my gosh, I had no idea those things were so expensive,” Councilwoman Jenn Duff said in a “hot mic” moment as Mesa police commandeers approached the dais earlier this month to give a presentation on the new contract.

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“While the department acknowledges the ongoing lawsuits involving Baltimore PD and two other agencies, it’s worth noting that utilizing Axon’s products significantly enhances our officers’ daily functions and provides them with the necessary technology to perform their duties more efficiently and safely,” the spokesman said. “Therefore, while we’re aware of the legal proceedings, our focus remains on ensuring our officers have the tools they need to effectively serve the community.”

Regarding body cameras, Wessing said the new contract would enable live streaming from the body cameras into Mesa’s Real Time Crime Center, so commanders could see what officers are seeing as an incident is taking place.

Year 1 of the contract for the 900 updated tasers and 720 body cameras includes $1 million in start-up costs, for a total of $23.5 million over five years.

Taser 10 fires each probe individually. An officer just needs any two out of the 10 shots in the cartridge to land to stun the subject.

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At the recent study session, Mesa council members appeared inclined to approve the higher contract, but there were some hints of frustration over escalating costs from Vice Mayor Francisco Heredia.

Wessing said department tests found an effective range of 45 feet for Taser 10, versus 11 to 15 feet for the current tasers.

But Axon is exacting a high price from Mesa PD at a time when city finances are starting to face headwinds. City sales tax revenue leveled off this year, and the city lost rental taxes – a budget hole Mesa is still not sure how it will fill.

Referring to Mesa as “a major client,” Heredia asked, “are there any leverage points based on these contract extensions to have those conversations with Axon, to improve their systems, to be able for us to improve our backlog of requests on public records requests?”

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As with the existing contract, the deal also includes unlimited video storage and access to the evidence.com file organization system.

In response to questions from the Tribune about the latest contract increase, a spokesman for Mesa PD said “the department has engaged in extensive negotiations with Axon to secure the most favorable pricing possible, as we would with any vendor.”

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An Axon spokesperson said that the suit “misguidedly attempts to revive antitrust claims abandoned by the FTC without condition or consent decree after full discovery and expert reports. The body worn camera market is more competitive today than ever and Axon must compete for every contract win.”

They said that Axon’s merger with its competitor in 2018, plus tactics like bundling services under long-term contracts, has “led to higher prices than there would have been in competitive markets.”

The FTC dismissed the complaint last year after a protracted legal battle over the constitutionality of the adjudication process, but the agency said the move was not due to “the antitrust merits” of the case, but the prospect of many more years of litigation.

The $23 million Axon contract value could fund a substantial amount of training for police officers or add behavioral health teams to respond to 911 calls related to mental health – a large percentage of calls.

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