Springfield police to receive 285 Axon body cameras

The Springfield City Council unanimously approved a $5.3 million, 10-year contract with Axon Enterprise to replace the Springfield Police Department’s WatchGuard body-camera system.

The action was taken during the council’s July 13, 2026, meeting and reported the following day. The agreement will provide the department with 285 new body-worn cameras. Springfield police have used WatchGuard cameras since 2021.

New camera system follows department trial

Police selected Axon after a yearlong field trial and evaluation of the system. The new equipment includes real-time language-translation capability, adding a feature to the technology officers use while documenting interactions with members of the public.

A department official said officers are required to activate their cameras during interactions with the public. The department’s switch from WatchGuard to Axon therefore affects the equipment used to record those encounters, while the activation requirement remains part of officers’ responsibilities.

Funding and department context

The purchase will be funded with federal forfeiture money and savings from vacant officer positions. The funding plan does not create a new police staffing authorization.

The department was continuing efforts to address an officer shortage when the contract was approved. The council’s vote commits Springfield to a multiyear public-safety technology contract while police move to a new camera platform.

The city’s official meeting page preserves the July 13 council meeting and its agenda. The public materials cited for the council action do not specify the contract’s annual payment schedule or an installation deadline.