The Haines City Police Department announced on Friday, December 19, 2025, that it has reinstated its body-worn camera program after a months-long lapse caused by numerous ongoing equipment and performance issues that prevented the cameras from functioning reliably with its previous vendor, LensLock Inc.
The lapse came under scrutiny following an officer-involved shooting on October 26, 2025, during which the department had no functioning body-worn or in-car cameras in service, resulting in no available footage of the incident.
The department had used body-worn and in-car camera systems from LensLock Inc. for three years, beginning in 2022. Issues with the LensLock equipment included cameras failing to hold a charge for a full shift, repeated upload failures at docking stations, in-car cameras that never became fully operational, failure to deliver activation triggers for firearms and tasers, and disputes over unlimited outsourced redaction services. On September 18, 2025, the City Commission declined to appropriate additional funds for the contract, triggering a non-appropriation clause that terminated the agreement.
The new contract, which became effective on Friday, December 19, 2025 also includes plans for phased implementation of additional equipment in the first quarter of 2026, such as tasers, a drone, in-car cameras, and virtual reality training.
SOURCE: HAINES CITY POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER & PRESS RELEASES
