Bridgeville Police Officers Getting Tasers

Bridgeville has purchased four Tasers for the borough police department.

The borough approved the purchase of the Tasers, holsters, training equipment, extra cartridges, batteries and warranties for $5,227.

Bridgeville police Chief Chad King said he was pleased that the department will be able to utilize the Taser with proper training for all of his officers.

King said he’s spent time researching the Taser and writing a department policy on how it would be used in certain situations. He told the borough council on Monday night that half of the 10 “use of force” cases involving his police officers over the past three years might have warranted use of a Taser.

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The issue was brought up last year after a Bridgeville police officer was injured during a scuffle with a suspect. , while pursuing a fugitive and is still rehabilitating in order to return.

King said at the time he wasn’t against the tool, but wanted the training and funding to be adequate.

“A lot of research went into it,” King said.

Besides the equipment purchases and training classes, the borough also budgeted $600 a year to recertify officers.

Board President Nino Petrocelli Sr. said he hoped the Tasers would prevent another officers from being injured for an extended period.

“It could save us a heck of a lot of dough,” Petrocelli said. “I think it’s a good move.”

But King said he’s not sure if the weapon would have prevented Lancia’s injury.

“There’s just no way of knowing,” he said.

He added that the Taser will remain low on the department’s “use of force” checklist and the officers will still carry non-flammable pepper spray.

“This gave me more time to research and construct a policy,” King said of the discussions over the past year.