3 agreements relating to policing approved by PV Town Council

Paradise Valley Town Council unanimously approved on its consent agenda June 13 three agreements for Axon police fleet cameras, a 911 emergency telecommunication system and East Valley Critical Incident Response Team.

The linking agreement between Town of Paradise Valley and Axon Enterprises, Inc., is adding four additional fleet cameras that will cost $11,783.52 per year. The total additional cost over the 10-year agreement will be $117,834.99.

The cameras will be installed in a new police truck approved in the fiscal year 2024 budget and three Ford Explorer Police Interceptors approved in the fiscal year 2025 budget, according to a staff report.

For the implementation and operation of the 911 emergency telecommunication system, there is a new grant agreement and associated memorandum of understanding with the Arizona Department of Administration from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027. The cost for FY25 is $61,693, which will be reimbursed by the Arizona Department of Administration.

In 2023, the council authorized the police department to switch 911 service providers and execute a linking agreement with AT&T Corporation for the 911 Next Generation call-handling equipment and professional services. Among the benefits of this system are increased cyber security, advanced technology, increased reliability and 24/7 customer support, according to a staff report.

The Arizona Department of Administration negotiated this underlying agreement with AT&T and allows municipalities the ability to use the technology at no cost through a reimbursement grant.

The intergovernmental agreement with the regional East Valley Critical Incident Response Team provides mutual aid to perform criminal investigations during critical force incidents.

Having outside agencies investigate critical force incidents is a best practice, a staff report stated. It provides a collaborative investigation that will be completed by uninvolved agencies, which can instill greater public confidence in the integrity and transparency of critical force investigations.

A new state law that goes into effect July 1, 2025, will require a police department to have an outside agency investigate critical force incidents. Through the development of EVCIRT, East Valley agencies are ready to conform to this law now.

PVPD will have a detective on call every three weeks who is ready to respond to investigate a critical force incident. On-call standby pay was increased by $4,000 in the FY25 budget.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. MacKenzie Brower can be reached at mbrower@iniusa.org.