The Brooklyn Park City Council approved a 10-year, $1.29 million contract with Axon Enterprise Inc. on Monday to modernize the police department's technology systems with artificial intelligence-powered equipment.

The agreement will provide the department with advanced body cameras featuring AI capabilities, upgraded Taser devices, and a new records management system. Police Chief Mark Bruley said the current systems are failing and lack integration with neighboring agencies, creating inefficiencies for officers.

"We have lots of independent programs and systems that do not speak to each other and rarely work well," Bruley told the council. The new body cameras will automatically transcribe audio, draft police reports, and provide real-time translation services in multiple languages.

The Taser 10 devices will replace the department's current Taser 26 models, offering 10 deployments at 45 feet compared to two deployments at 25 feet. Deputy Chief Elliott Faust said the technology could save officers significant time on paperwork, citing studies showing 11 hours per day saved in other departments using similar AI tools.

The council also addressed public comments from resident Colette Guy Hempel regarding inequities in District 279 school programming. Mayor Hollis Winston committed to reaching out to state officials including Attorney General Keith Ellison and the Commissioner of Education about the concerns. The meeting included introductions of six new city employees and a proclamation recognizing Juneteenth, with the city's celebration scheduled for June 21 at North Hennepin Community College.