FRONTLINE police in Swan Hill will soon be armed with upgraded tasers as part of a $214 million agreement with US-based supplier Axon.
The rollout will start in 36 regional stations and two metro sites in November with 10,300 officers to receive a taser over the next three years.
The new Taser 7 model will replace existing units issued up to five years ago and provides improved technology, accuracy and safety.
The police stations will also receive a fitout to facilitate storing the new devices.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the announcement was “a major milestone” in the rollout of tasers to police and PSOs.
“Frontline policing can be dangerous and unpredictable and these devices give our officers another option when dealing with high-risk, volatile situations,” he said.
“Often just drawing one is enough to bring an incident to a safe resolution.”
The new devices will activate an officer’s bodyworn camera when drawn so there’s an independent record of what has occurred.
The footage will include what happened in the 30 seconds beforehand.
“Our specialist police have been using tasers for almost 20 years and the public should have confidence there is stringent oversight of when and how they can be used,” he said.
“Linking the latest generation devices with an officer’s body worn camera also means there is an independent record when a taser is drawn or discharged.”
