COLUMBIA — Uniformed and nonuniform officers attended the first public input meeting Saturday morning in support of new technology upgrades for the Columbia Police Department.

The meeting, co-hosted by the department and law-enforcement technology company Axon, shared new and improved products Columbia police are exploring for purchase.

Columbia Police first worked with Axon when it purchased tasers from the company in 2005, and began implementing its body cameras from 2011-2014.

Police Chief Jill Schlude said in the presentation there were limitations in the department's evidence management system, citing concerns about running out of server space.

Axon offers a cloud-based storage system, which Schlude said would mitigate storage concerns. Schlude believes that making these upgrades are necessary and overdue.

"I think it’s something the councils going to be interested in because it is something that helps us obviously be more transparent and accountable," Schlude said, "and I think that’s very important to the community and the council and it’s important to me as the police chief."

In coordination with technology upgrades, Schlude hopes to hire a new Property and Evidence Technician, who would specialize in digital evidence management.

Two more presentations will be held on Monday to gain community feedback, before the council gives the proposal its first read at a meeting this month.