The Mokena Police Department is set to receive a significant technology upgrade after the Village Board approved a five-year, $176,526 contract with Axon Enterprise for a new in-car video system.

The agreement, approved at the June 23 board meeting, will replace the department’s aging WatchGuard systems, which were first implemented in 2017. Police Chief Brian Benton explained that since WatchGuard was acquired by Motorola a few years ago, technical support has “suffered significantly,” and as of 2024, Motorola no longer offers software maintenance for the department’s current systems.

The move to Axon will create a unified digital evidence platform for the department.

“The more efficient option provides for a unified system that creates a consistent, integrated platform with our existing system, which is Axon,” Benton said.

The department already uses Axon for its body-worn cameras and the interview room recording system at the new police station. Benton noted that many neighboring agencies and the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office also use the Axon platform, which will streamline the secure transfer of video evidence for investigations and prosecutions.

The five-year contract includes all hardware, software, licensing, and maintenance. The cost is $35,305.20 per year, an amount that was already approved in the village’s fiscal year 2026 budget. Due to the integrated and proprietary nature of Axon’s platform, the board waived competitive bidding requirements, citing Axon as a sole-source provider for the service.