Police to get new Tasers, cameras

Thanks to a sizable allocation for public safety aid by the state legislature this year, the Cloquet Police Department is getting body cameras and new Taser stun guns, at no additional costs to the city or taxpayers for now.

Cloquet Police Chief Derek Randall strongly recommended the move.

"Essentially, we are living in a world that if it's not recorded, it didn't happen," Randall told the council during Tuesday's meeting. "It's becoming more and more difficult to rely solely on officers' testimony to explain how a situation occurred."

Randall cited federal statistics about arrests after implementation of body cameras: guilty pleas increased by 20 percent, court time for officers and other people involved in the court process down 70 percent, complaints against officers down 88 percent, and use of force down 75 percent.

"I think that's in part because you have both sides knowing they're being held accountable in these situations, so officers are less apt to use more force than necessary, and subjects we're dealing with are less apt to engage or do something criminal or that could harm the officers during these engagements," Randall said.

Cloquet follows the Carlton County Sheriff's Office and the Fond du Lac police department in getting the body cameras; Randall said they hope to learn from the other agencies.

Although stun guns are nothing new to the department, the replacements are overdue.

"We still have some Tasers that were issued when I started in Cloquet in 2001," Randall said. "They're a very valuable tool for us and one of our only alternatives to lethal force."

Officers can often get compliance just by displaying a stun gun, Randall said. Speaking from experience, he explained a person is temporarily incapacitated when a stun gun is deployed, but the effect wears off very quickly when the barbs are removed. That's in contrast to pepper spray, for example, which can impact everyone nearby when sprayed and takes time to wear off.

Because the city is purchasing both devices from the same company, the two will be linked. That means when a stun gun is pulled from its holster, it will activate the officer's body camera, and every officer's body camera within a certain range.

Cloquet city councilors unanimously approved the contract to purchase 24 Axon body-worn cameras and 24 Axon Taser 7 devices and accessories for a total cost of $260,616. Cloquet had accepted a $38,000 grant in May 2022 to help pay for cameras and stun guns, but the bulk of the costs will be covered by the $556,412 allocated from the omnibus tax bill that passed in May. The city also received other discounts and added services after negotiating.

The five-year contract with Axon includes camera mounts, Taser holsters, plus online storage of videos, software and a warranty. Axon will also provide new body cams after two-and-a-half years and again at five years. All officers will receive updated training.

"When is the first time taxpayers will have to pay for replacements?" Ward 4 councilor Kerry Kolodge asked.

City administrator Tim Peterson said when the contract ends in five years, the council may want to sign on to an annual payment plan.

Tuesday's hearing was the third time the city had invited public comment on the purchase. The city received overwhelmingly supportive written comments.

Resident Bill Dixon likes the idea of body cameras.

"It's one of those jobs that you want it done perfectly, you don't want any mistakes like a surgeon or a pilot. But they happen, and accountability is a good thing," Dixon told the council.

The council also accepted a grant to fund the DWI officer's position for the second year in a row, a program highlighted in the June 30 issue of the Pine Knot.

Preliminary levy set

In other matters Tuesday, councilors and Mayor Roger Maki approved the preliminary 2024 tax levy and city budget, setting the Truth in Taxation meeting for 6 p.m. Dec. 5.

As approved, the tax levy would increase from $3.44 million in 2023 to nearly $3.6 million for 2024, an increase of 4.53 percent. The amount could decrease in December, but that is the maximum the city could adopt, Peterson stressed.

Councilor Kolodge asked about increases to the library budget - it's been operating at a net loss for years, Peterson explained - and $70,000 for the permanent improvement fund, which has not been funded in recent years. That pays for road and other infrastructure improvements and is something the city wants to have more funds available to help pay for those projects, Peterson said.

"With the increased LGA [local government aid from the state] that we're getting, I was hoping to get into the threes [3 percent range] instead of the fours," Kolodge said. "What's the chance of that happening?"

Peterson said there are unknowns, including unsettled labor agreements and health insurance, but he hoped the tax increase will be lower by December.