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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">600 E. Walnut Street
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Columbia, MO 65201</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">February 28, 2025</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Brian McNeill
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.825.4022
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov
<br />
<br />Sarah Yoro-Massad
<br />Public Information Specialist
<br />Columbia Police Department
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.864.4742
<br />policepio@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Columbia Police Department seeks community's feedback on renewal and upgrades to Axon technology package</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Columbia Police Department invites community members to attend presentations on Axon Fleet 3, Axon Signal, Axon Body Worn Cameras and Axon Evidence Management. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At these meetings, staff and Axon representatives will provide an overview of how the technology works, explain the potential benefits and discuss the policies in place to ensure responsible usage. Community members will also have the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback and offer suggestions.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Public safety is our number one priority, and we believe this technology will support that mission," said Police Chief Jill Schlude. "With your feedback, we can ensure this technology effectively supports our efforts to keep our residents safe."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Axon’s Fleet 3 includes in-car cameras with ALPR (automated license plate recognition) technology designed to assist officers in identifying stolen vehicles, locating wanted suspects and improving overall law enforcement efficiency while maintaining a high standard of privacy, data protection and accountability through transparent comprehensive auditing. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This technology does not capture identifiable images of people or their faces and does not use facial recognition technology. ALPR camera systems support law enforcement by offering objective evidence crucial for solving cases. The Department has been utilizing ALPR technology in some patrol vehicles for over a decade. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Axon Signal is a technology developed by Axon that enables automatic activation of Axon body worn cameras and in-car cameras in response to specific triggers such as drawing Tasers and handguns and activation of emergency lights or sirens. The system is designed to improve officer accountability and reduce the risk of missed recordings by ensuring that cameras start recording without requiring manual activation. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Axon's Evidence Management system includes Auto-Tagging Technology which enhances digital evidence management and officer accountability by automatically applying metadata like case numbers, locations, and timestamps to recordings so they are properly retained. Integrated with Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS), it reduces manual data entry, minimizes errors, and ensures accurate, transparent documentation, saving time for staff and strengthening public trust. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CPD recognizes the importance of open communication with the community when introducing or expanding technology, and the department is eager to hear from residents to ensure that questions or concerns can be addressed. The Department has been utilizing Axon Tasers since 2005, and Axon body worn cameras and Evidence Management (Evidence.com) since 2014.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The meetings will be held at the following times and locations:</span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday, March 8, 10 a.m. to noon in Conference Rooms 1A/1B at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monday, March 10, 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Molly Thomas Bowden Neighborhood Policing Center, 1204 International Dr.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monday, March 10, 6-8 p.m. in Conference Rooms 1A/1B at City Hall, 701 E. Broadway</span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Residents will also have the opportunity to leave comments at BeHeard.CoMo.gov March 3 through April 6.</span></p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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