Louisiana signs $192.6 million no-bid contract with Motorola for public safety, police technology

The arrangement goes into effect immediately and will expire Aug. 13, 2036. State agencies that will receive new cameras and radios through the deal include Louisiana State Police, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Department of Public Safety and Corrections, Division of Probation and Parole, Office of Juvenile Justice and State Fire Marshal. 

Motorola already had an exclusive, $49 million contract to maintain the statewide emergency radio network through 2030. The new arrangement is worth nearly four times that amount. It extends the company’s relationship with Louisiana for another five years and dramatically expands the services it will supply. 

Axon Enterprises Inc. has been providing Louisiana State Police its body cameras since troopers started wearing them in 2017, but the company was looking to charge nearly twice as much for its equipment over the next five years, Evelina Broussard, Gov. Jeff Landry’s chief information officer, said at a legislative hearing Thursday. 

Broussard said her office was able to secure greater savings for the state by agreeing to bundle Motorola services together over a longer period of time. As part of the deal, Motorola has also agreed to offer sheriffs and local law enforcement agencies the same discount on equipment it is giving the state. 

While the contract was not competitively bid, Louisiana State Police ran pilot programs using both Motorola and Axon equipment in 2025, according to documents shared with lawmakers. State officials said they chose to recommend Motorola because it was the more affordable option.

“Motorola wins on the price,” state police chief administrative officer Robert Burns told lawmakers Thursday. 

Most state law enforcement agencies in the country use either Motorola or Axon for similar equipment, he said. 

Louisiana and local governments must spend at least $12.2 million per year combined with the company in order for the state to gain access to the deep discounts, according to a draft of the contract.

In an interview, Landry’s Deputy Commissioner of Administration Bryan McClinton said the spending benchmark should be easily met since the state already plans to spend that amount of money annually on the radio network alone.

Senate Democrats worried the contract was rushed through the approval process. Lawmakers first discussed it at a budget committee meeting on July 23.

Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Gerald Boudreaux of Lafayette said he was disappointed no additional hearing on the contract had been held before the lawmakers voted Thursday.

Senate Pro Tempore Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, said she was frustrated a draft of the contract hadn’t been provided to her until the day before Thursday’s meeting.

“This is a lot to read and digest in 24 hours, and I think that is totally disrespectful,” Barrow told Landry administration officials.

Broussard, Landry’s chief information officer, pushed back on criticism that the deal had not been subjected to enough public scrutiny. The governor’s budget staff could have entered into contracts for the public safety services without coming to the lawmakers for approval, she said. She chose to do so in order to be open with the legislators.

“This is probably the most transparent deal that’s ever been done,” Broussard said.

Though the contract lasts for 10 years, Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, said lawmakers have the authority to end it early. The agreement is contingent on the Louisiana Legislature providing money for the equipment and services in the annual state budget.

“It’s a 10-year contract as long as we fund it for 10 years,” he said.