Knoxville City Council passes proposal to expand police surveillance tools with new contract [Video]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville leaders and demonstrators gathered in a room Tuesday for the city council’s first regular meeting of the year. It was a tense meeting that included demonstrators voicing opposition against a proposal that expanded the Knoxville Police Department’s contract with Axon to get more surveillance tools.

If renewed for the full term, the new contract could cost around $27.6 million. The new contract gives the police department a new records management system and services to help run its new Real Time Information Center. It also gives the police department new cameras to be placed around the city and new software to obtain more footage — Axon Fusus.

The new contract also upgrades some of the police department’s Tazers. Axon also would continue its existing services for in-camera and body camera services. The company …