May 11--After months of debate that at times was contentious, West Point City Council will vote Monday night on whether to allow its police officers to carry Tasers.
The resolution to be voting on allowing the Tasers includes a use of force policy and guidelines for deployment and training of officers.
Should the resolution pass, Tasers will not be issued to officers for at least 30 days after council's vote. Police Chief Jeffrey Cato also is required to provide a "use of force" report to city council twice a year.
The resolution also contains an order that council create a Citizens' Police Review Board. The board will have the authority to review residents' complaints against the police department and assure the department adequately investigates all complaints lodged against it.
Details on that review board, including its size and who might be appointed to it, were not discussed at council's regular Thursday work session.
Council has debated whether to allow police to carry Tasers for several months. Cato had first talked about getting the non-lethal weapons for police officers two years ago. The plan was shelved because of the cost. Early this year, Troup County Sheriff Donny Turner said his office would pay the $20,000 it would take to buy Tasers for 15 police officers.
The city still will need to pay about $600 a year for training and replacement of the Taser cartridges.
Council took several months to make the decision on the Tasers after allowing extra time to educate concerned residents on the weapon's use and hold an informal public hearing to listen to concerns. In the midst of that, a group of residents marched on City Hall before a council meeting to protest alleged abuses of the police department.
A group of residents and city officials have had several meetings since then and those meetings continue.
Copyright 2012 - LaGrange Daily News, Ga.
