MONDAY, May 18, 2026 |
Photo – Saratoga Police patch – Bigfoot 99 file photo
The Saratoga Police Department requested $383,000, over the next 10 years, for new equipment.
During the May 6th Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief John Moore presented an Axon contract consolidation. Chief Moore said his department has at least two separate contracts with the law enforcement technology company and that the tasers his officers carry are out of date.
Chief Moore said his current Axon Taser contract will cost $31,000 this year, and $27,000 a year until 2029, adding that the price only covers the existing tasers and does not include any new equipment.
Chief Moore said the Axon representative recommended combining the police department’s multiple contracts into one, including an agreement for new tasers. The consolidated bill would be $382,930.14. The chief acknowledged that the price was high but noted that the payments would be split over 10 years.
For just over $38,000 a year, Chief Moore said the Saratoga Police Department would receive new body cameras four times over the length of the contract.
Chief Moore said that under the new contract, officers’ dashboard‑mounted camera systems would be upgraded twice over 10 years. The Saratoga Police Department would also receive seven of the newest taser models. Moore said Axon would also provide taser‑training equipment.
In addition to the VR headsets, Chief Moore said officers will have access to padded taser‑resistant suits for practicing their skills in real‑world scenarios. Five years into the contract, the tasers would be upgraded to the newest model at no additional cost to the town.
Chief Moore said under the contract, Axon will provide the town with two trailer‑mounted license‑plate readers. He said the Axon units do not have the same security concerns as the more controversial Flock cameras.
Chief Moore said he has been testing license‑plate readers for the past few months. During that time, he used the cameras to track a sex offender visiting the Hobo Hot Springs multiple times.
The Saratoga Police Department also used the license‑plate readers to find and arrest a suspect with several outstanding warrants in Colorado.
Chief Moore said that under the proposed contract, the two cameras would be replaced twice over 10 years, with the town retaining ownership of the equipment.
The tasers, dashcams, license plate readers, and scheduled upgrades would increase the town’s annual costs by roughly $7,000.
Chief Moore said the contract covers all equipment and software upgrades for the next 10 years, adding that the quote is valid until May 30th.
The Saratoga Town Council agreed not to vote on the Axon contract until its next meeting on May 20th to give the governing body time to review the agreement.
