Taser Replacement Project

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) allows states, tribes, and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own local needs and conditions. Grant funds can be used for state and local initiatives, technical assistance, training, personnel, equipment, supplies, contractual support, and information systems for criminal justice for any one or more of the following purpose areas: 1) law enforcement programs; 2) prosecution and court programs; 3) prevention and education programs; 4) corrections and community corrections programs; 5) drug treatment programs; 6) planning, evaluation, and technology improvement programs; and 7) crime victim and witness programs (other than compensation).

The city of Lakeland will use its Fiscal Year 2008 JAG award in the amount of $15,255 to purchase X26 Tasers. The Lakeland Police Department first purchased and issued the Taser M26 to officers in 2004. The use of a Taser falls under Defensive Action guidelines Level 4, which describes six levels of resistance and response. Level 4 states that the subject is physically evasive in an attempt to defeat an officer's control. This less-than-lethal approach has produced a city wide decline in use of pepper spray and Defensive Action Reports (DAR) since implementation.

Taser International, the manufacturer of Taser, has recently stated that production and support of the M26 model will be discontinued. The Lakeland Police Department believes it is in the best interest of the department and city to begin a replacement project and utilize the $15,255 from the 2008 JAG to fund the purchase of eighteen Taser X26 Electronic Control Devices (ECD). The advanced X26 is 60 percent smaller and lighter than the M26, it has greater incapacitating power, integrated laser sight, upgradable software, and Central Information Display (CID), to display a countdown timer during activation and battery level. The Taser X26 is transforming law enforcement and becoming a vital tool for patrol level law enforcement officers around the world.

NCA/NCF