The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department is hoping to update some of their Taser equipment, but it comes with a cost.
During Monday morning’s County Commissioner’s meeting, Sheriff Matt Hassel made the request. He says the current inventory of Taser weapons has aged to the extent that the manufacturing company, also named Taser, does not provide warranty and repair support.
Hassel says this will ensure they are able to continue using the non-lethal equipment.
“They no longer support.,” says Hassel. “And I don’t how long we’re going to be able to get batteries and even the Taser cartridges themselves. So I thought we’d try to replace some of them this year and some of them next year.”
The Marshall County Sheriff’s Department currently owns 11 “X26” models. The products are considered relatively old by equipment standards.
If one of the Tasers break, the Sheriff’s Department says they may be unable to replace it without updating to a newer model. To limit cost, Hassel has specifically proposed buying five “X2” Tasers and to replenish the supply in 2017. Funding will come out of the department’s firearms fund.
Hassel says the weapons will rotate until they’re replaced.
“We will have six of the old ones left and hopefully replace the rest of those next year,” says Hassel.
Cost to Marshall County is estimated at more than $8-thousand this year. That includes a four year warranty.
The County Commissioners approved the request, unanimously.
