Officers of the Clarkston Police Department are expected to receive Taser training sometime after the first of the year, thanks to funding approval given by the city council on Dec. 20.
A motion by Council Member Scott Meyland authorizes the expenditure not to exceed $1,500 for the purchase of one Taser and associated training. With that action, an unnamed source will donate a second Taser unit to the police department.
The motion passed on a 6-0 vote, with Council Member Steve Wylie absent.
Chief Ernest Combs proposed the purchase last fall, seeking to add to officers? available resources in detaining uncooperative suspects, but the tight city budget would not allow for the purchase.
Since then, Combs has shown income about $2,000 more than projected from fingerprinting and preliminary breath test services. Meyland’s motion includes the stipulation that the purchase come from those funds.
Further, city officials will review the police budget next spring to be sure that fund balances. If not, Meyland’s motion was for the council ‘to amend the budget accordingly? to find funds in the police budget.
Officer Al Kitzens told the council he has arranged for a certified instructor to come in at no cost to the city. The biggest challenge in training will be one of scheduling, to ensure everyone is competent not only in the use of the device, but also with what will be a new departmental policy on when to use it.
Tasers shoot two small darts connected to the device by small wires up to 15 feet long. Upon contact with the subject, the device emits an electrical charge designed to subdue a subject without causing permanent injury.
‘We need something non-lethal in our arsenal,? Combs said later.
While some continue to voice concerns about potential long-term harm or abuse, many police agencies have found Tasers to be effective, and Combs said other departments? track records became part of his argument to obtain Tasers for the city police.
‘That’s why I waited so long before asking for them,? he said. ‘The advantages far outweigh the drawbacks.?
An officer has control over how long the charge is applied, and Combs said the device has a computer chip which allows for a printout of the details of each use.
Meyland gave credit to Combs for his research and creative budget work, and he appeared to apologize for the council’s delay in acting.
‘We had to spend a little time to make sure we were being fiscally responsible and to make sure the money would be coming from the right place,? Meyland said.