Tasers will be upgraded for the Washington Police Department. At the recent city council meeting, the council unanimously voted to upgrade the department’s equipment. Police Chief Jim Lester said the current technology the department has is 10 years old and not every officer is currently issued a taser. Council member Danielle Pettit-Majewski said it’s a needed piece of equipment, “I think it’s appropriate that we have an option for non-lethal force for the officers and for the protection of our citizens.”

The new tasers will have two cartridges and be able to deploy an arc warning without having to remove the cartridge. The police department will have an annual cost of $5,724 for five years for this equipment. Lester says this will equip every officer with the less lethal tool at all times.