Law enforcement and community leaders join
Axon in shared commitment
Axon to fund third-party research on
gun-related deaths between police and the public to better track
data and inform solutions
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 20,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Axon (Nasdaq: AXON), the
global public safety technology leader, announced this week at the
annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
conference in Dallas, that it is
joining forces with law enforcement and community leaders in a
moonshot goal to cut gun-related deaths between police and the
public in half by 2033.
This moonshot goal serves "to organize and measure the best of
our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are
willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone," as U.S.
President John F. Kennedy put it 60
years ago when he rallied the nation behind a mission to put a
human on the moon.
Achievement won't be measured in miles traveled, but in lives
saved. Last year in the U.S., 1,118 people — 1,054 civilians and 64
officers — lost their lives in gun-related incidents between police
and the public, and 2022 is on the same trajectory, according to
leading data sources.(1) While these losses reflect a complex set
of issues, the impact on families and loved ones, communities, and
our country as a whole is felt deeply and daily.
"We are calling on our own employees, leaders of the law
enforcement profession, community organizations, technology
companies, elected officials and others to support and achieve this
goal," Axon CEO and Founder Rick
Smith says. "This is not Axon's moonshot. This is our
moonshot. And we all have a role to play in achieving this
goal."
Recent roundtables and discussions with law enforcement,
community and municipal leaders have surfaced broad-based support
for this moonshot goal — including the Fraternal Order of Police
(FOP), the African American Mayors Association (AAMA), the Major
County Sheriffs of America (MCSA), the National Organization of
Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and the National Policing
Institute among others.
- "We applaud Axon for bringing this coalition together. Police
officers put their lives at risk everyday serving their
communities. We are committed to working with Axon and all the
groups involved to find new ways to keep our officers and the
public safe," says Patrick Yoes,
National President of the Fraternal Order of Police.
- "We choose to do the hard things in life because we can and
because we must. And make no mistake, this is a hard, charged,
seemingly insurmountable thing. But it is vital to the sanctity of
life. And so we must keep trying, keep talking, keep innovating,
and keep moving forward, together," says Phyllis Dickerson, CEO of the African American
Mayors Association. "I look forward to joining Axon and others in
critical discussions as we look for solutions that ensure justice
for all, while enacting prevention and intervention measures that
keep our communities safe."
- "Having served as chief of two major city police departments —
San Jose and now Dallas — I have seen first-hand the
devastating impact that gun-related deaths have on our officers and
our communities," says Dallas
Police Chief Edgardo (Eddie) Garcia.
"We were proud to be the host agency of the IACP Annual
Conference and Exposition in our city this week, though the days
prior were some of the most tragic for law enforcement in recent
memory. My fellow chiefs and I are inspired by this moonshot goal
and hopeful that it will bring both policing and community leaders
together to solve such a critical issue."
- "The Major County Sheriffs of America stands united with Axon
and our law enforcement partners across the country to achieve this
ambitious goal to reduce gun-related deaths involving the police
and public by 50%," says MCSA President and Seminole County Sheriff
Dennis Lemma. "This goal will only
be accomplished by working together and using the best practices
and tools available in order to create secure communities. When
both law enforcement and the public can go home safe at the end of
every day, we have succeeded at our mission."
- "Members of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement
Executives (NOBLE) stand with Axon and all the community and law
enforcement partners in this mission to make our profession safer
and more effective," says NOBLE President Brenda Goss Andrews. "This is long overdue and when
achieved will help to ensure we have safe and more secure
communities."
Recognizing that the solution goes beyond technology, Axon will
continue to convene roundtables to facilitate open discussions and
perspective-sharing, seeking to drive research-based, and
responsible solutions.
Axon has also enlisted the Institute for Intergovernmental
Research (IIR), a private nonprofit research organization, to track
gun-related deaths between police and the public. IIR will
thoroughly research, collect, and analyze information related to
each incident. Axon is funding the research with the expectation
that more data will help provide insights into common contributing
factors to gun-related deaths between police and the public, and
better inform solutions. Data collection will include all shooting
deaths in all U.S. jurisdictions involving officers and civilians,
where an officer or a civilian died. IIR will release quarterly and
annual reports. The first report featuring data from 2022 will be
released in mid-2023.
Axon is committed to investing in better technology, training
and data that will help achieve better outcomes and deepen trust
between law enforcement and the communities they protect and serve.
Axon intends to invest in accelerated advancements in non-lethal
and de-escalation tools and training; next-generation cameras and
evidence capture devices; real-time response and communications
tools; community impact, engagement and feedback solutions; and
more comprehensive and actionable use of force and response to
resistance reporting.
Those interested in joining the movement by sharing ideas or
contributing in ways we have not yet imagined can visit
thisisourmoonshot.com or email moonshot@axon.com.
(1) Sources: Officer Down Memorial Page annual fallen officer
statistics and Washington Post police shootings
database
About Axon
Axon is a technology leader in global public safety. Our
moonshot goal is to cut gun-related deaths between police and
the public by 50% before 2033. Axon is building the public safety
operating system of the future by integrating a suite of hardware
devices and cloud software solutions that lead modern policing.
Axon's suite includes TASER energy devices, body-worn cameras,
in-car cameras, cloud-hosted digital evidence management solutions,
productivity software and real-time operations capabilities. Axon's
growing global customer base includes first responders across
international, federal, state and local law enforcement, fire,
corrections and emergency medical services, as well as the justice
sector, commercial enterprises and consumers.
Axon is a technology leader in global public safety. Our moonshot
goal is to cut gun-related deaths between police and the
public by 50% before 2033. Axon is building the public safety
operating system of the future by integrating a suite of hardware
devices and cloud software solutions that lead modern policing.
Axon's suite includes TASER energy devices, body-worn cameras,
in-car cameras, cloud-hosted digital evidence management solutions,
productivity software and real-time operations capabilities. Axon's
growing global customer base includes first responders across
international, federal, state and local law enforcement, fire,
corrections and emergency medical services, as well as the justice
sector, commercial enterprises and consumers.
Axon, TASER and the Delta Logo are trademarks of Axon
Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the US and other
countries. For more information, visit www.axon.com/legal. All
rights reserved.
Non-Axon trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Axon, Axon Air, TASER and the Delta Logo are trademarks of Axon
Enterprise, Inc., some of which are registered in the US and other
countries. For more information, visit www.axon.com/legal. All
rights reserved.
Follow Axon here:
- Axon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/axon_us
- Axon on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/
Note to Investors
Please visit http://investor.axon.com,
https://www.axon.com/press, www.twitter.com/axon_us and
https://www.facebook.com/Axon.ProtectLife/ where Axon discloses
information about the company, its financial information and its
business.
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