No Tasers for Youngstown cops this year

No Tasers for Youngstown cops this year

YOUNGSTOWN — The city won’t buy Tasers for police officers this year.

While some council members question whether officers need Tasers, the police department’s financial issues sealed the deal on not purchasing them this year.

The police department has spent $388,000 on gas for its vehicles so far this year, said city Deputy Finance Director Kyle Miasek, with the expectation it will spend $90,000 to $100,000 more the rest of the year.

That would be almost twice the department’s annual fuel budget of $250,000.

To help offset some of that additional fuel cost, Miasek asked city council’s safety committee today to not approve the purchase of 50 Tasers at a total cost of $50,500.

For the complete story, see Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.