ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando is suspending the bidding process for police body cameras, which may mean officers will not be outfitted with the cameras by July as planned.
Questions were raised when it came to light that two Orlando police officers also work for Taser International, which was one of the companies bidding to supply the cameras to the department.
A statement from the city read, “Our initial review indicates that the procurement process wasn't compromised in any way, however in an abundance of caution and to eliminate any questions about the solicitation of body worn cameras, the City will cancel the current solicitation and reject all proposals.”
The city of Orlando was asking for an internal investigation into the two officers to see if the officers violated an ethics policy.
An earlier review said that the department didn’t know that training officer Brian Cechowski was working for Taser International.
A second officer, Anna Melnick, was paid by Taser International to train other law enforcement agencies on the cameras, while she was working for the Orlando Police Department.
Orlando Police Chief John Mina said on Monday that a full internal investigation is the only way to make sure everything was done ethically.
The city self-reported to the state ethics commission.
Cechowski and Melnick were told by the city to quit their jobs at Taser International.
There is no timeline in place for a new bidding process.
Cox Media Group
