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5. Data Storage Method Selection <br />There are two types of data storage solutions available when selecting a BWC solution. <br />One is internal storage managed and maintained by City IT staff and budgets, and the <br />other is external or cloud-based storage purchased annually on the Department’s <br />budget as part of an integrated BWC and data management system. Either solution <br />has its unique costs and limitations to be considered. Integral to choosing between the <br />two will be the ease of use by the officer and additional end users of the system who <br />share in using BWC evidence, i.e., judicial courts, case investigating detectives, <br />evidence clerks, supervisors and command staff. Ongoing system maintenance costs <br />are a factor as well. Hardware selection and price point purchasing considerations will <br />help the selection process for whatever solution is selected. <br />Beyond the initial purchase costs for hardware and data management software, data <br />storage can be one of the most costly aspects of a viable BWC solution. Depending on <br />archived video retention schedules, legacy data storage can compound beyond <br />projected storage levels, especially when technology moves forward to enhanced video <br />capture capability from ‘standard’ to ‘high definition’ or undetermined future <br />technologies. <br />Departments that inaccurately projected their long-term storage needs quickly realized <br />the mounting costs stripped their department budgets of available funds and were <br />forced to make immediate course corrections. Corrective solutions included purchasing <br />additional unbudgeted data storage solutions, reducing camera utilization by restricting <br />the type of video evidence captured (one Bay Area county agency currently uses <br />restricted video capture to keep their data storage cost down) or abandon the BWC <br />entirely, as some cities have been reported as doing. <br /> <br />6. Competitive Equipment Bid (RFP) <br />The projected costs were based on the experience of other comparably-sized law <br />enforcement agencies that have implemented BWC systems with the technologies <br />RCPD would seek to acquire. <br /> <br />7. Equipment Purchase <br />Whatever BWC system is selected, consistent and reoccurring costs for data storage <br />and equipment replacement cycles are inevitable. Knowing that the commitment to a <br />BWC system is a commitment in perpetuity, some vendors have created purchasing <br />packages that amortize the cost annually for 5-year duration contracts. One vendor <br />includes set increments for equipment upgrades within a 5-year contract to take <br />advantage of new developing camera technologies and version upgrades to data <br />6.1.A. - Page 11