Boone County is seeking state grant funds to upgrade the sheriff office’s supply of Taser units.
During Tuesday’s Boone County Fiscal Court meeting the panel approved filing the filing of a Kentucky Homeland Security Law Enforcement Protection Program grant application.
“This relates to the need to replace the critical tasers and equipment by our sheriff’s department – as our current devices have reached or are reaching the end of their useful life,” Boone County Administrator Matthew Webster said.
The fiscal court’s action affirms the court’s support for the grant application requesting $139,259 and authorizes Boone County Judge/Executive Gary W. Moore to sign and submit the grant application, Webster said.
The grant funds would replace 94 devices and included batteries and cartridges, Boone County Sheriff’s Office Maj. Philip Ridgell said.
“This is because TASER discontinued training for the X26, the model that most of our deputies are currently equipped with,” Ridgell said in response to an email inquiry regarding the grant application.
There would be a one-time cost for upgrades and all recurring costs would be covered in the sheriff’s office budget, Webster said.
The Law Enforcement Protection Program enables the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security to provide law enforcement agencies statewide with funds to purchase duty equipment on a year-around basis, the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security website noted.
“We do want to always make sure that our law enforcement team has the best equipment possible to protect them and the citizens,” Moore said.
