Denver's proposed license plate reader company has ties to DHS
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An Axon body camera. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Axon, the company Mayor Mike Johnston's administration tapped to take over the city's automated license plate reader system, currently has a contract with the Department of Homeland Security, per USASpending.gov.
Why it matters: Axon's direct ties to a federal agency overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement put it at odds with a city whose leaders publicly denounced ICE's tactics and policies.
- The city's current vendor, Flock, drew criticism last year over concerns that its database could be accessed by federal immigration authorities or local law enforcement assisting federal investigations.
Driving the news: Denver City Council members on Wednesday moved a proposed one-year contract with Axon out of committee.
State of play: Axon is in the middle of a five-year contract with DHS worth up to $997,118 to provide cameras and data storage to support DHS investigations, per USASpending.gov.
- The contract helps DHS "fulfill its mission of protecting American citizens" by providing body-worn cameras and other camera-related accessories, a DHS spokesperson tells Axios Denver.
Context: The mayor's administration has assured council members that data collected by cameras will be protected and used solely by Denver police.
Yes, but: Council members Wednesday said they worry President Trump's administration could bypass those protections with subpoenas or executive orders, potentially obtaining data gathered locally.
What they're saying: "Axon does not have a national search function and has the highest security grade of any company we evaluated," Johnston's spokesperson Jon Ewing said in a statement.
- The DHS contract provides technology "intended to deescalate situations and to increase transparency," which are "things we want ICE to have," Ewing added.
- An Axon spokesperson did not return multiple requests for comment.
What's next: The Denver City Council will host a one-hour public hearing on the contract Monday.