El Paso commissioners debate timing of body camera, stun gun contract
El Paso County commissioners are having some conflict over how to handle a body camera and stun gun contract for county-funded law enforcement agencies. But it’s not exactly just about the money.
The $1.7 million price tag isn’t insignificant, but what led to a split 3-2 vote Monday morning isn’t if commissioners should spend the money or not.
“It sounds like we all agree that it needs to happen,” Commissioner Andrew Haggerty said. “I don’t understand why the risk of waiting to lose the benefits of all those things when, since it’s a five-year contract anyway, we know what it’s going to be next year anyway.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office wants body cameras for all patrol officers and constables, and could get new Tasers and video storage along with it under an offer from Taser International.
“Body cameras clearly are a good thing and will help our office in the relationship with the community we serve,” said El Paso County Sheriff Richard Wiles.
No one on Commissioners Court said they’re not willing to make the purchase.
“There’s so much to discuss,” El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar said, “that simply saying yes, let’s approve the expenditure today without identifying what we sacrifice, where the operations budget gets placed what other capital needs get delayed – I didn’t want to do that.”
Escobar has been arguing that approving the contract right now goes counter to a major county effort of accountability in spending and budgets.
But not everyone agrees. Commissioners Haggerty and Carlos Leon voted against pushing the contract discussion later in the budget process.
“In law enforcement, I just don’t think it fits a lot of times into ‘We’ve got to start in July. You all have got to start in July,'” Leon said.
With Monday’s vote results, county staff will work with Taser International to see if the bid will be good through the budget process which starts in July. If not, Escobar said she may consider moving up part of the budget discussion to cover it.
