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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 o_NCOS CITY OF BANGOR r; `•ol'�r �: oqTt 4EO,i (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.