Mayor Pro Tem Gilbert and the Oakdale City Council on Tuesday authorized the police department to contract with Axon Enterprises for in-car camera equipment and 20 Draft 1 AI report licenses, with a combined cost of $172,591.78.

A police department representative told the council the package would include forward-facing dash cameras and rear-seat cameras and would integrate with evidence.com. “Draft 1 is an AI powered narrative generation tool that uses body worn camera, audio, and transcripts to generate draft incident police reports,” the presenter said, describing how auto transcripts and an AI draft can be reviewed and corrected by officers within minutes.

The presenter said Axon’s in-car cameras and Draft 1 improve transparency and evidence collection, reduce report-writing time and overtime, and may reduce department liability. He described a recent example in which back-seat footage helped explain officer actions in a use-of-force review and said the cameras provide “an accurate record of events.” Council members asked about activation triggers (sirens, lights, doors or assignment-dependent settings) and buffering; staff confirmed cameras can buffer 30 seconds to two minutes, capturing footage before activation.

Staff reported the in-car camera equipment cost $124,268.18, to be paid in five annual installments of $24,852, and Draft 1 licenses cost $48,323.60 for a two-year contract, with both purchases funded from the contract services fund. The presenter said the purchases were budgeted and that evidence.com integration would streamline case delivery to the district attorney’s office.

Council member questions touched on vendor selection and security. The presenter noted Axon’s widespread market use and compatibility with the city’s existing evidence platform; he said staff had considered alternatives but cited Axon’s product longevity and data capabilities. The council moved to approve the resolution; the motion passed on roll call 4–0.

The contract authorization is effective immediately; staff will coordinate procurement and implementation and the council did not set additional conditions at the meeting.