Muhammad Abdul Qawee
•7/21/2026
Cape Coral police are asking city leaders to approve more than $1.15 million to replace aging body-worn cameras, upgrade license plate reader technology and improve software used by officers.
The proposal, which goes before the Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday, would authorize a 10-year agreement valued at $1,155,070.38 for new body-worn camera equipment, software and related licenses. The department also is seeking approval to spend $144,539.90 in fiscal year 2026 and $158,564.85 in fiscal year 2027 to upgrade license plate reader technology and other related equipment.
According to the police department, the upgrades are needed because some of its current technology has become outdated. The department's existing body cameras operate on older 3G technology and are seeking to move to 5G-compatible devices to improve image quality and streaming capabilities. The department also says some of its license plate reader cameras are about a decade old.
John Joyce, CEO of CRA Technology Consultants, said keeping technology current can help officers respond more effectively across Cape Coral, one of Florida's largest cities.
If approved, the agreement would include annual payments through 2032. Police officials say they plan to use federal police confiscation funds, generated through asset forfeitures related to criminal investigations, to help pay for the upgrades.
The department says the investment also would strengthen its Real Time Crime Center by providing officers with faster access to information to monitor, prevent and respond to crime. City Council is expected to consider the proposal during its meeting Wednesday.
