TASER International, concerned that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) was about to select a body worn camera vendor without a technical field evaluation, TASER offered to provide the NYPD with 1,000 TASER Axon body cameras, software and storage, free of charge, as a gift to the City of New York.
TASER said it would support a NYPD field test by providing free cameras and cloud-based video storage for up to one year. The cameras could be operational and out on the streets within two weeks of the NYPD’s acceptance of the gift.
At a public hearing held by the NYPD concerning the proposed contract, Vievu, said it would match TASER’s gift.
Tarey M. Gettys, Vice President and General Manager of Vievu, LLC. and its parent, Safariland, said: “If the NYPD would like Vievu to provide 1,000 free cameras… we’ll be happy to provide them.”
“TASER’s mission is to make communities safer with innovative public safety technologies,” said Isaiah Fields, TASER’s Vice President of Government Affairs.
(See the world’s first holster and body worn camera auto-activation system. Courtesy of The Safariland and YouTube)
“We’re thrilled that TASER is the catalyst for NYPD’s opportunity to get 2,000 free body cameras at no cost to the community.”
“The NYPD can use this opportunity to accelerate its body camera program with cameras out on the streets this year instead of next, in a side-by-side field trial that ensures the selection of the best technology for the City,” concluded Fields.
(There’s a conversation taking place about the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Axon creates connected public safety technologies that facilitate that dialogue between all stakeholders. Courtesy of TASER International and YouTube)
TASER International makes communities safer with innovative public safety technologies. Founded in 1993, TASER first transformed law enforcement with its electrical weapons.
TASER continues to define smarter policing with its Axon brand which includes a growing suite of connected products and services from body cameras and digital evidence management tools to mobile apps.
Designed by Cops for Cops, VIEVU is a leader in body worn video (BWV), providing secure, high-quality video cameras for law enforcement, security, emergency medical services and retailers.
Built on police experience, VIEVU body worn video cameras are used by thousands of law enforcement agencies in 17 countries and received the highest score in an evaluation of body worn video by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
