MOUNT VERNON — City council members approved buying new tasers for the Mount Vernon Police Department that have more than twice the range of the current ones.
Council suspended the three readings and authorized the purchase of 35 Taser 10s from Axon Enterprise for $147,000. Taser 10 has a range of 45 feet compared to the current 21 feet.
Its new technology includes the capability to automatically turn on the body cams of any officer within 20 feet, improving transparency and accountability to the public.
The department bought its current tasers in 2014.
“We’re having some maintenance issues, and now Taser has come out and said they are not supporting this device any longer,” Chief Robert Morgan said. “They’re not going to have spare parts for it. They’re not going to have batteries for it, so they are truly at the end of life.”
The chief applied for a $60,000 Justice Administration Grant to cover the cost but has not received a response due to the recent government shutdown.
“My sources with the grant people tell me we have a high likelihood of getting some of the money for it, but I also put it in my budget this year to pay for it if the grant does not come through.
“If it does come through, we’re money ahead,” he said.
Axon’s initial quote for 35 tasers was $154,000 over five years, or $30,800 a year. However, the chief negotiated a reduced price of $147,000, just shy of $30,000 annually.
“That covers everything. It covers maintenance, batteries, taser cartridges, training, certificates, warranties, everything,” Morgan said.
The chief said that historically, the U.S. Department of Justice cuts grant requests in half. Morgan said if the department receives $30,000, it will reapply for the remaining $30,000.
Avoiding a 12% price increase
Morgan submitted the request to the council this year because of a 12-percent price increase that goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026. The price increase would add about $20,000 to the price tag.
The first payment is due in February. The contract includes a clause that allows the city to withdraw if the council withdraws its appropriation or the city decides not to pursue the purchase.
Councilman James Mahan, chair of the Police, Fire, and Civil Defense Committee, noted that the new tasers require extensive training to deploy correctly.
“They allow for more than one deployment if needed, and it’s part of the officers’ normal gear,” he said.
Morgan said tasers “bridge the gap from a fistfight to a gunfight” and provide a de-escalation tool without serious injury.
Legislative action
In addition to approving the new tasers, council members took the following actions:
•Adopted 2026 appropriations
•Passed legislation authorizing the city to bid and contract for the Mansfield Avenue and Cottage Street sanitary improvement projects
•Suspended the three readings and authorized the city to dispose of seven vehicles the MVPVD no longer needs
•Approved a property tax exemption for Founders Grove planned neighborhood development
•Accepted a parcel of land from the Knox County Land Reutilization Corp.
•Voted to acquire two parcels of land that are part of a private stormwater system
•Approved wastewater rate increases
•Gave a first reading to an ordinance amending the distribution of the city’s hotel lodging tax
