Taser Units for Police Department

01/27/2019

Council: 680 - MILLINOCKET

Project Description:

In the fall of 2017, a Millinocket police officer responded to a disturbance call where he confronted an individual who was showing signs of increasing aggression. Sensing danger and despite repeated warnings to the individual to stand down, the officer attempted to subdue the individual with his taser unit. The taser had little effect on the individual who proceeded to attack the officer. Several individuals responded to assist the officer, who was the only one on patrol at the time. The individual was apprehended and taken into custody.
The incident exemplified the need to upgrade the existing taser units which were old and in frequent need of repair. Chief Steven Kenyon of the Millinocket Police Department used a grant to purchase a new taser unit with the intention of using grant money to purchase another taser unit in subsequent years until the old units were eventually replaced. While this seemed like a cost conscious solution to a problem in the face of budget constraints, it meant that there would be times when an officer would be left using an older unit that may be less than reliable.

The St. Martin of Tours Council 680 Knights of Columbus and the Fourth Degree Assembly 347, both of Millinocket, discussed this problem at one of their monthly meetings and agreed to purchase two taser units for the Millinocket Police Department so these units would be available to the police officers on duty as soon as possible. A committee was also formed to initiate a capital campaign in the hope of recouping some of the money spend by the Knights in order to replenish their meager funds. A letter writing campaign was initiated and mailed to local businesses, individuals, and corporations in the greater Millinocket area. The response was overwhelming.
Hannaford Foods made a contribution of $3000 dollars towards this project. Several businesses and individuals made contributions of 200 dollars or more. A benefit supper conducted by Council 680 contributed 200 dollars. A total of $5225 dollars was raised which far exceeded the $2700 dollars needed to purchase the two additional units needed. Council 680 and Assembly 347, after adding their pledges to this project, placed the additional funds in a separate account to be utilized by the police department to purchase additional cartridges, pay for repairs, and assist in training costs until the funds are depleted.

This was yet another example of a community coming together to confront a problem that faces many rural communities. In this case, the benefactor is a safer community and Council 680 was happy to be a part of the solution.