We recently wrapped our 8th Axon Accelerate, our annual user conference that brings together leaders from across the public safety spectrum. In addition to certifying 200 people on our body camera and evidence management solutions, launching our latest body camera, hearing inspiring keynotes from legendary coach Bill Belichick and futurist Peter Diamandis, and hosting over 50 educational sessions and panels, the conference was abuzz with another important topic: Our moonshot goal to cut gun-related deaths between police and the public in the next 10 years.

Our moonshot was threaded throughout the conference, from the “One Giant Leap” theme, to its incorporation into much of the content that attendees absorbed. Today we’d like to share a little more from the moonshot-specific sessions and discussions that took place, in a show of transparency and momentum as to how our plans are taking shape. Some quotes have been edited for clarity.

Opening Keynote with Rick Smith

To kick off this electrifying week, Rick Smith took the stage to welcome almost 2,000 Axon Accelerate attendees. During the opening keynote, Rick introduced the next phase of our moonshot: Axon Body 4. This next-generation body camera has been designed to maximize safety, increase transparency and improve situational awareness. With a full-shift battery, enhanced evidence capture and real-time support and communication, the features of Axon Body 4 will drive transparency and officer safety while capturing every moment.

Evidence-Based Practices that Reach for the Moon(shot) with Robin Engel, Michelle Miller, Renee Mitchell and Charlie Henick

The three pillars of the moonshot goal are technology, training and trust. In this insightful session, panelists Dr. Robin Engel, Senior Vice President of the National Policing Institute; Michelle Miller, Chief Operating Officer of Institute for Intergovernmental Research; and Dr. Renee Mitchell, retired police sergeant and research scientist, take a deeper look into data and how it will move the needle as a critical part of achieving the moonshot goal. One important way that data can be leveraged to increase officer safety is in training, and then testing that training to see its impact. Dr. Robin Engel shared that the only way to put officers in the best situations to reduce their likelihood of injury and their likelihood of injuring others is through evidence-based policing.

To the Moon: A Fireside Chat with Phyllis Dickerson, Dr. Robin Engel, Chief Jeri Williams, Mike Wagers and Rick Smith

In a thoughtful fireside chat, Rick Smith was joined by Phyllis Dickerson, CEO of the African American Mayors Association; Dr. Robin Engel, Senior Vice President of the National Policing Institute; and retired Chief Jeri Williams of the Phoenix Police Department. This distinguished panel took a closer look at how agencies can work toward the moonshot goal to make their communities even safer. A common belief held by this panel is the importance of fostering relationships between the community and the police. To achieve our moonshot, Phyllis Dickerson stressed the importance of not doing things to the community but doing things with the community. It is about breaking bread, building relationships and building communities with officers—all of which aligns directly with the moonshot “trust” pillar.

Ready for Change: A Frank Discussion on Achieving Our Moonshot Goal with Sean Walton, Andrea Kersten, Spencer Fomby and Shannon Moore

To explore the impact of gun-related deaths between police and the public on communities, Sean Walton, Civil Rights Attorney; Andrea Kersten, Chief Administrator at the Civilian Office of Accountability; and Spencer Fomby, retired Police Captain of Boise Police Department, sat down to talk through what achieving the moonshot goal will look like. A common sentiment shared by the panel is the importance of maintaining the well-being of officers and communities. Technology, such as body cameras, bring the invaluable foundation of transparency to communities, but it also has a profound impact on officers and families when traumatic videos are released. Panelists discussed how these situations could be improved and the importance of empathy therein.

Your Giant Leap: Building Evidence-Based Trust with Michelle Guido, William Puzynski, Alana Saulnier and Alex Engel

One way to navigate community relations with the public is to build trust through sharing footage in an evidence-backed manner. Dr. Alana Saulnier, Criminologist and Assistant Professor at Queen’s University; Deputy William Puzynski of Orange County Sheriff’s Office; and Michelle Guido, Director of Strategic Communications at Orange County Sheriff’s Office, sit down to discuss how we can tell the story of the work that officers do with the public in a better way. A concerning topic, Dr. Saulnier shared, are the controversial incidents that go viral, while equally good police-community incidents go unshared and unnoticed. A study by Dr. Saulnier explored the effects of showcasing positive stories in equal measure, and found that police services can reduce or moderate the negative effect of low existing trust in police by proactively sharing the remarkable acts that are much more common than the negative acts that get most of the attention.

As you can see, many individuals and groups outside of Axon are heavily involved in the technology, training and trust pillars of our moonshot goal. This is by design—we simply cannot achieve this goal alone. We are grateful for the feedback, the perspectives and the thoughtful discussions that took place at Accelerate this year, and will carry this forward as we continue making strides toward our moonshot. For more information and to keep up with our efforts, head to thisisourmoonshot.com.