HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-10 09-261 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 09 261
Date: 8-10-09
Item/Subject: Order, Authorizing the City Manager to accept up to $1,000 in funds from
Eastern Maine Medical Center to purchase an Electronic Control Weapon
(laser).
Responsible Department: Police
Commentary:
Eastern Maine Medical Center, in recognizing the potential dangers to staff and patients of the
Emergency Room by violent or otherwise disturbed patients, has offered to provide funding to
the City for the purchase of an electronic control weapon, otherwise known as a Taser. Eastern
Maine Medical Center recognizes that the use of a Taser can be a safer and more effective
means of disabling a dangerous or combative person in the Emergency Room than other
alternatives.
The Taser would be purchased and owned by the Bangor Police Department for the sole use of
its police officers, specifically those officers who work at the Emergency Room to provide safety
and security to the staff and patients between the hours of 8 PM and 2 AM, seven days per
week.
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
This has been reviewed and is recommended by Government Operations. dvd�
City Manager
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
Legal Approval:
Introduced for
X Passage
First Reading
Referral
Finance Director
Page _ of _
City Solicitor
09 261
Assigned to Councilor - Wheeler August 10, 2009
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(TITLE.) ORDER, Authorizing the City Manager to accept up to $1000 in funds from Eastern
Maine Medical Center to purchase an Electronic Control Weapon (Taser).
By the City Council of the City of Bangor -
ORDERED,
That the City Manager is authorized to accept up to $1000 in funds from Eastern Maine
Medical Center to purchase an Electronic Control Weapon (Taser) for use by Bangor Police Officers
while working in the Emergency Room.
IN CITY COUNCIL
August 10, 2009
Taken off Consent Agenda per
Councilor Blanchette
Motion Made and Seconded for Passage
Passed
CITY CLERK
(TITLE,) Am -b ,rizi ng the City Manager to
arreptup to $1:000 in funds from Eastern
Maine Mediral Center to purchase an
Electranir Control Weapon (Ta ser)
Assigned to Councilor
x;19 961
Eastern Maine
Medical Center -
Inspiring confidence in care
489 state street July 9, 2009
PO Box 404
Bangor, Maine 04402-0404
207-973-7000
www.emmc.org
Ronald Gastia; Chief of Police
Bangor Police Department
240 Main Street
Bangor, ME 04401
Ron;
Eastern Maine Medical Center would like all Bangor police officers assigned to
the special detail in our Emergency Department as well as officers responding to
other calls for assistance at EMMC to have available a Taser for their use.
To ensure that this is possible EMMC is offering to pay the City up to $1,000 for
one Taser. Upon receipt EMMC would then donate the Taser to the Bangor Police
Department.
EMMC will also provide in close proximity of our Emergency Department a
secured storage cabinet for the Taser that only Bangor Police will have access to.
The Bangor Police Department would continue to conduct any necessary training
as well as overseeing appropriate usage of the Taser.
Please let me know if this is agreeable to you and if so we can work out the
payment details.
As always, thank -you for the continued support and cooperation that you and your
officers provide to EMMC.
Sincerely
Stephen Russell
EMMC Security Manager
tgnIN
EMHS
MEMBER
"9 X61
240 Main Street
e Bangor. Maine 04401
Bangor Police Department 207-947-7382
Fax 207-945-6824
B G,om
TO: Members of the Government Operations Committee
FROM: Ronald K. Gastia, Chief of Police
DATE: June 13, 2009
RE: Grant to purchase a Taser
The Police Department was recently contacted by officials at Eastern Maine Medical Center who
have offered to purchase an Electronic Control Weapon (Taser) for use by police officers who
respond to incidents at the hospital, specifically the Emergency Room.
Currently, police officers are hired by EMMC to work "private details" at the Emergency Room
between the hours of 8PM and 2AM, seven days per week. This has occurred for several years due
to an increase in incidents, or potential incidents of violence against Emergency Room personnel.
EMMC has offered to purchase a Taser for the Police Department because they recognize the benefit
to officers, hospital staff, visitors, patients, and the suspect during acts of violence that occur within
the Emergency Room.
While the Police Department owns and issues to Tasers to on -duty personnel, there are not enough to
ensure that an officer assigned to the Emergency Room detail will have one during every detail.
Further, officers sometime report to the Emergency Room for the detail without first visiting Police
Headquarters. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have an on -sight Taser in the Emergency
Room for use solely by Bangor Police Officers during the details, or any other time that it is needed.
I have advised EMMC officials that I would only support a grant from EMMC for the purchase of a
Taser if:
1. EMMC funded the purchase, but the purchase was actually made by the Police Department;
2. The Taser became the sole property of the Bangor Police Department;
3. The Taser remained accessible ONLY to Bangor Police Officers, in a locked storage
container.
EMMC has agreed to these requirements and has offered to provide funding for up to $1000 for the
purchase. The current cost of a Taser is $809.95. .
The Police Department recommends approval of a grant from EMMC of up to $1000 to purchase a
Taser for use exclusively by Bangor Police Department.