Burns: $20,850 grant buys tasers for West Hills Regional Police Dept.
All on-duty officers will now be equipped with devices
Rep. Frank Burns May 2, 2024 | 3:23 PM
EBENSBURG, May 2 – Thanks to a $20,850 grant obtained by state Rep. Frank Burns, all on-duty West Hills Regional Police Department officers will be equipped with late-model tasers, rectifying a situation where they shared the only three devices they had.
Burns, D-Cambria, began working to acquire the tasers with former police Chief Ed Fisher, meeting to discuss the severity of need and then devising a plan that successfully secured Harrisburg funding.
“They told me that’s what they needed, and to support law enforcement, I went out and got them exactly what they needed to better do their jobs,” Burns said.
Current police Chief William “B.J.” Newman, who took over in February, said the purchase of five new tasers ensures that every officer working a given shift will carry one of the devices.
“Before, if we had more than three officers out (working a shift), somebody didn’t have a taser with them. Now, that will be very rare,” Newman said. “We appreciate everything Frank Burns has done for us. He’s done numerous things for us – a grant for a new police cruiser that was very much needed, and acquiring equipment and technology, which is ever-changing.”
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“We appreciate everything Frank Burns has done for us. He’s done numerous things for us – a grant for a new police cruiser that was very much needed, and acquiring equipment and technology, which is ever-changing.” – Chief William “B.J.” Newman, West Hills Regional Police Department.
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Newman said that in addition to being an upgraded version, the new tasers come with a 5-year contract for free replacement of all cartridges, all training materials for new officers – and a “simulation suit” that someone can wear for mock training scenarios, which the department did not have before.
Newman said there are 15 officers in the department – which covers Westmont, Southmont and Brownstown boroughs, and Lower Yoder Township.