Although it has been four months since the Athens Police Department acquired 10 taser guns for their officers, other law enforcement agencies are not planning to purchase the equipment right now.
Athens County Sheriff's officers will not be getting taser guns this year because of their cost, Investigator Steve Sedwick said.
We looked into it and did some research and it's not gonna happen due to the fact that it's a money issue
he said. If we were able to find some type of grant money somewhere it would seriously be considered.
Sedwick said he figured it would cost about $14,000 to equip the sheriff's office, which includes the cost of the guns as well as additional cartridges and belts. The sheriff's office would need about 24 guns.
The sheriff's office might consider at the end of the year getting the guns if grant money can be found, he said.
We just have to find the right combination of things and justify the needs and go from there Sedwick said.
Purchasing the guns is not under consideration at this time for the Ohio University Police Department, said Chief Tony Camechis.
Since getting the taser guns in April, APD officers have used the guns several times, including during an Uptown disturbance at the end of Spring Quarter.
Those uses, however, have not been enough to comment on the effectiveness of the guns, APD Chief Rick Mayer said.
I don't think we've had an ample amount of time in using them in order to fully state the benefits
he said.
The Athens post of the State Highway Patrol, however, has been using taser guns for a little more than a year.
They are a definite benefit
both to our officers and to the public
said Lt. Tom Dean. In situations where we have to use them
injuries are greatly reduced on both sides. It's an excellent law enforcement tool.
Each of the 15 patrol cars is equipped with a taser gun, and an officer can decide if he or she wants to carry the gun on his or her duty belt, he said.
Dean said the guns are easier to use from an officer-safety standpoint than mace or batons, and they bring people into compliance with the law with less harm to themselves.
No one at the Athens post has been injured by the use of the tasers, he said.
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