Versailles to buy police Taser, advertise for part-time officer

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

Citing the need for police officers to have a use-of-force option other than guns, Versailles Borough Council President Lisa Fleckenstein asked council to consider approving a police department request to purchase a new Taser. 

“I wanted to consider the purchase of a new Taser for the police department with the necessary accessories,” she said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Sgt. (Tim) Walker did some research into it and he thought it would not be more than $3,000. 

“… Right now they don’t have a good Taser, and I think it’s important that we have a less lethal option for them.”

Council unanimously approved a motion to allow the department to choose and purchase a Taser and accessories at a cost not to exceed $3,000.

Before the vote was taken, Councilwoman Linda Sheedy asked, “Are they up on the training or are we going to have to make sure they get the training?”

“(Walker) said that, once they do get the Taser, depending on where they get it, he will look into who will come in,” Fleckenstein responded. “They will absolutely need some training on a new Taser because it’s a new Taser. Some of the officers use Tasers in their other jobs as part-time police, so I’m not sure who all would need it.”

In another police-related matter, council unanimously ratified a recent phone vote to increase the pay rate for part-time officers from $18 an hour to $20.75 an hour. Fleckenstein said the move to give officers a raise was accounted for in the 2020 budget and the rate change took effect June 28.

Fleckenstein revealed that two part-time officers, who were not named, haven’t been available to be placed on the patrol schedule. She said one isn’t available for work as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident. The other officer has been busy with prior commitments and has been unavailable to work.  

As a result, the council unanimously decided to advertise for applications for a part-time officer.

For more information about applying, call 412-751-3922 or email boversa@aol.com.

To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.