Vancouver, Washington – The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking vendors to implement a state-of-the-art police camera program—including body-worn, in-car and on-dash cameras.

The city is seeking proposals from vendors with proven long-term quality and high levels of experience and effectiveness in the criminal justice/police industry, including the ability to provide:

• Cameras and associated equipment
• Data storage
• Implementation of the program
• Training for officers
• Ongoing maintenance and support

“We look forward to the implementation of a department camera system to increase transparency and safety for both officers and the public we serve. This process will allow us to purchase a system that adheres to the highest standards and quality to meet our needs and the needs of the community,” said Vancouver Police Chief James McElvain.                                  

Proposals can be completed online or delivered by UPS, FedEX or the U.S. Postal Service no later than 3 p.m. (PST) on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The full RFP and submission details are available at https://vancouver.procureware.com/Bids.

The RFP process is an essential piece of a multi-step process to launch the VPD’s camera program by spring 2022. The Vancouver City Council approved $3 million in the 2021-22 biennial budget to fund the program. Once a vendor has been selected, the department will then hire staff to manage the program, test the cameras, train the police force, and install cameras in police vehicles.  

“The task force has been highly engaged in helping move forward the implementation of key changes in policing practices,” said Vancouver City Manager Eric Holmes. “We are grateful for their partnership as we work together in building a better system for our community.”

The city’s Community Task Force on Policing, formed in the summer of 2020, is tasked with reviewing, and advising the city on establishing the camera program. The task force is also charged with reviewing and assuring accountability during the implementation of the recommendations in the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) use of force report. The task force represents the community’s voice in discussions and issues related to use of force, training, and data collection policies.

The community is invited to follow the progress of the task force, including updates on the police camera program implementation, and share ideas at www.beheardvancouver.org/taskforceonpolicing.

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