By Linda Greer
news@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho police officers soon will have one more item to add to their duty belts after the City Council’s approval Tuesday of the purchase of 10 Taser guns.
“This will put something else in the hands of law-enforcement officers,” Mayor Jeff Werneke said Wednesday. “It’s a non-life-threatening way to calm people down.”
Werneke said police Chief Dave McCracken had been hesitant for some time about buying the guns until he was certain that the devices are “absolutely safe” and “can be used responsibly.”
A Taser gun, unlike a stun gun, fires a projectile that carries an electronic charge that will immobilize a person. A stun gun must be pressed directly against a target to deliver the electronic shock.
The council agreed to purchase 10 Taser X26 models for about $10,000, which includes training, holsters and downloading software.
“They’re really pretty neat,” Werneke said. “They have a log that can be downloaded that shows the time and date the gun was fired.”
Werneke said the log ensures that the guns will not be abused, and will protect officers from allegations of misuse. The X26 model is the midrange model, he said.
According to Taser International literature that McCracken presented to the council, the X26 and top model M26 “are the only less-lethal electronic control device weapons systems that can stop an aggressive, focused combat trained attacker.”
Werneke said McCracken spent two to three years reading articles about the guns and talking to other departments that use them. Joplin, Newton County and Cassville have the guns, he said.
The company’s literature also states that the guns “directly stimulate motor nerve and muscle tissue, causing incapacitation regardless of mental focus, training, size or drug induced dementia.”
When the guns arrive, Taser representatives will retrain officers in their use.
“Just by being on the police force, officers already have been trained,” Werneke said. “They actually get a jolt. Now they get to go through that again.”
Neosho officers will continue to carry clubs and Mace for a time after the guns are put in use, Werneke said. Eventually, clubs and Mace may be removed, he said.
The 10 guns will be enough to equip half the department. Next year, the city will budget for 10 more guns, Werneke said. In the meantime, officers will sign out guns for their shifts.
“Every officer will carry one when they are on duty,” Werneke said.
New police cars
The Neosho City Council on Tuesday approved a contract with Joe Machens Ford for four 2008 Crown Victoria patrol cars for $89,852 to replace cars with high mileage. The council also approved a contract with Odessa Ford Chrysler for two 2008 Dodge Magnum police investigation cars for $43,774.
Local News
Neosho police to carry Tasers
- Local News
-
-
Farmers Insurance teams up with Rebuild Joplin
Farmers Insurance announced Tuesday that the company will team up with Rebuild Joplin for an initiative to help the community complete its recovery efforts. The company already has placed one of its executives in Joplin, and it is pledging additional funds and volunteer hours by company workers to go toward the city’s recovery.
-
Crowder president to join MSSU staff
Alan Marble, who will retire as president of Crowder College in June, has been hired as special assistant to the president of Missouri Southern State University. “With his long experience in higher education administration and his intricate knowledge of the needs of students, we knew Dr. Marble would be a great fit at MSSU,” President Bruce Speck said in a statement that announced the transition.
-
Mike Pound: Husband helps pull off surprise for Carl Junction teacher
Keri Keckley said the key to pulling off the Sunday surprise was the deceptive minister.
Boy, if that isn’t a great opening line for a crime novel, I don’t know what is. But in this case, the line doesn’t belong in a crime novel. It belongs in this column. -
‘Letting Go Day’ planned to help clear the clutter
When Ann Leach lost most of her possessions in the tornado that struck Joplin on May 22, 2011, she realized that things don’t matter that much.
-
Arma mother facing murder charge in sleeping baby’s death
Heather Buckalew fell asleep on a couch with her 4-month-old baby after a night last summer drinking beer with her boyfriend. The boyfriend, Donald Harvey, got up to go to work a few hours later and spotted his son, lying face down on a pillow between the back of the couch and his sleeping mother.
-
Joplin residents lend a hand in Moore
Joplin is paying it forward. The day before the two-year anniversary of an EF-5 tornado leveling one-third of Joplin, pastors from Ignite Church in Joplin were in Moore, where an EF-5 spent 40 minutes on the ground on Monday.
-
Monetary donations cited as best help for Moore
Financial support for organizations providing shelter and supplies to Oklahoma tornado survivors is recommended for people who want to help. Otherwise, the word is to wait for requests.
-
Joplin man continues struggle to recover two years after tornado
As the Joplin tornado passed overhead, sweeping the house at 2430 S. Pennsylvania Ave. away in its wake, there was a moment of calm. Delbert Mcguirk was on his back in the basement, where he had sought shelter along with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren. In that moment of relative quiet, he stared up into the eye of the tornado.
-
Via Christi Health to cut up to 400 positions across state; Pittsburg impact uncertain
Via Christi Health announced Today that it would cut up to 400 positions within its system across the state of Kansas to compensate for financial challenges as a result of declining hospital and physician visits.
-
Globe reporter describes scene in Moore, Okla.
Joplin Globe Reporter Andra Stefanoni said the tornado-damaged town of Moore, Okla., is eerily reminiscent of Joplin on May 22, 2011.
- More Local News Headlines
-
