Just because Oxford Village Police got the go-ahead last week to purchase their first Tasers, don’t expect to hear cries of ‘Don’t tase me, bro!? echoing all over town.
‘I think a properly-trained police officer isn’t going to abuse that power,? said Councilman Tony Albensi.
Council voted 5-0 to approve the $2,439 purchase of two Electro-Muscular Disruption devices, commonly known as Tasers, from the South Lyon-based Michigan Taser Distributing.
Grant money from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA) and drug forfeiture funds will cover the vast majority of the cost. Only $485 is coming from the police budget.
Tasers are electroshock weapons that disrupt superficial muscle functions by firing projectiles (electrodes) that administer a shock through long, thin, flexible wires. When used, they temporarily incapacitate people and animals.
Tasers give officers ‘another option? when it comes to ‘controlling combative subjects? in situations that otherwise ‘may require fatal force,? according to Police Chief Mike Neymanowski.
Not only does a taser protect the officer using it by stopping violent subjects who ignore verbal warnings, it also protects the person he’s attempting to subdue because it’s a ‘less-lethal weapon? as opposed to a firearm.
It was noted that when it comes to firearms, police officers are only trained to shoot to kill, not shoot to wound.
A Taser can help bring down armed or combative subjects who are high on drugs, mentally incapacitated or who are much larger or physically stronger than an officer.
Although Neymanowski said the Taser ‘has been proven to save lives,? he also noted that ‘certainly this weapon can cause death in certain situations.?
That’s why the department will have a very strict policy in place governing Taser use and all officers will undergo the proper training.
‘I’m sure your officers would be welltrained and use very good judgement,? said Councilman Tom Benner.
Councilwoman Teri Stiles was initially skeptical about the purchase.
‘Are we really in a position in Oxford that we need Tasers?? she asked the chief.
In response, Neymanowski told council about how village Officer Clint Ashcroft was jumped by two guys one night during a traffic stop in July 2005. These men ‘tried to get control of his gun.?
Fortunately, an off-duty officer was nearby to step in and lend Ashcroft a hand.
‘He shouldn’t have been put in that situation,? the chief said. ‘He should have had that option of tasing these people.?
Having a Taser would also come in handy when village officers are on patrol at night by themselves.
Although the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department is always ready to provide assistance, Neymanowski said, ‘Sometimes backup might be two minutes away.?
‘That’s a lot of time to put up a fight with somebody, believe me,? the chief said.
These examples convinced Stiles of the need for Tasers.
Village President Chris Bishop wanted a policy instituted whereby council would be made aware every time the police discharged a Taser.
Bishop wanted to avoid the possibility of ‘Taser run-amok? as he put it.
‘I’m not saying any of our officers are that way,? he said.
However, Bishop wondered if officers armed with Tasers are ‘less likely? to negotiate their way out of a situation and ‘more apt? to shock someone.
Neymanowski noted that even though village officers carry pepper spray, ‘we probably use that maybe twice a year.?
‘I think that’s pretty good for all the encounters we have out here,? the chief said.
Albensi noted his closest friend is a sheriff’s deputy who carries a Taser and he doesn’t treat it like a ‘toy.?
‘They would treat this Taser as they would a gun,? Albensi said. ‘They don’t want to pull that Taser . . . unless it’s absolutely necessary.?
Neymanowski said he’d look into making it a part of department policy to notify council whenever a Taser’s used.
Under the terms of the $815 grant the department received, the chief noted police would be required to automatically notify the MMRMA, via a written report, of any Taser use.