Tumwater committee endorses police body camera contract 

The Tumwater Police Department is nearing the process of acquiring body-worn cameras. 

The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee endorsed a contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to procure body cameras and new in-car cameras. 

The contract will be forwarded to the Tumwater City Council, which will consider it for approval on Tuesday, Dec. 16. 

The contract runs for five years and costs $186,548 annually. 

The contract calls for 48 body cameras and 29 in-car camera systems, according to an invoice attached to the contract. 

Tumwater police already use in-car cameras but are looking to replace them, so the body cameras and in-car cameras operate under one platform.

Tumwater Police Department Chief Jay Mason told the committee that doing so would streamline the management of footage. He added that the contract with the current in-car camera provider, G-Tech, is scheduled to terminate by the end of the year. 

Under the contract, body cameras would be replaced with updated versions every 30 months, while in-car cameras would be replaced every 60 months. 

Mason added the package comes with unlimited video storage, solving an issue with G-Tech in which storage is limited to 40 terabytes. The chief said the department expects to use at least double that storage amount with the addition of body cameras. 

The system also comes with redaction assistance tools to help the department process video for public disclosure requests, as well as an online portal where people could submit their own footage to support police investigations. 

The body cameras also feature real-time translation that supports more than 50 languages, allowing officers to better communicate with the community. 

Committee members were enthusiastic about the city getting body cameras. 

“I think it is so important that Tumwater has the same tools for our law enforcement officers as the rest of the county,” said committee and city council member Kelly von Holtz. 

Committee member and Mayor-elect Leatta Dahlhoff also noted the city was saving on costs by closing the deal this year as opposed to later when Axon’s prices are set to increase in 2026. 

Once the contract has been finalized, Mason said procurement could take 60 to 90 days.  He added the police department already has a tentative police agreement with the union, which will be brought to the council for discussion once Dahlhoff takes office.