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Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Commander Clarence “Ed” Trapp was assigned to develop the city’s body camera program in 2012. Chief Nate Harper introduced Trapp to two salespeople from Taser International, later renamed as Axon. Within five years, Trapp’s ties to the company grew closer, including several all-expenses-paid trips and paid consulting work.
This timeline details those ties through documents, email correspondence and important dates.
Trapp was instrumental in closing a $1.5 million deal for 550 body cameras between the City of Pittsburgh and Axon earlier this year.
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Matt Stroud is a freelance writer who specializes in criminal justice. He has written for Pittsburgh City Paper, The Atlantic, Reuters and other publications.
More by Matt Stroud