Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department Getting New Tasers

(BEDFORD) – Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies are getting new tasers.

On Tuesday, the Commissioners signed a contract with Axom Enterprise to provide the department with 38 new teasers, cartridges for those tasers, and training cartridges. There will be enough cartridges and training cartridges to last five years.

Sheriff Mike Branham

“Tasers are necessary tools that save lives, eliminating officer-involved shootings and preventing injuries,” says Sheriff Branham.

The total cost of the equipment will be $82,620.36 after the trade-in of the old tasers officers are currently using. That amount will be paid over a five year period. The first payment will be $11,484.36 contract and then $17,784 a year for the next four years.

Sheriff Mike Branham is receiving 6 bids from three vendors for repairs to the railing outside the main entrance of the jail.

Once all the bids are received he and Commissioner Dustin Gabhart will review the best options to repair the railing and will present the bid to the other commissioners.

Sheriff Branham says he has the funds in his budget to pay for the repairs.

In other business:

Sheriff Branham reported there were 111 inmates in the jail Tuesday morning. Of those 93 are male, 18 females, two Level 6 felons and three Department of Correction holds.

“These numbers are really good, but we will see where we go from here,” he added.

Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer reported the 911 board is looking at a carrier to handle the county’s 911 calls. The current contract with AT&T is about to expire.

Lawrence County Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer

“We now have a lot more options now with new technology,” she added.

The county will hire a consultant to find the best deal. The contract for that consultant will not exceed more than $7,500 and will be paid from by 911 funds.

Luchauer also reported the county has received another order of personnel protection equipment from the state and another order is on its way.

“We have hand sanitizer and other PPE equipment needed to take care of all the county government offices,” she added. “We are ready to serve the public.”

Highway crews continue to patch roadways and mow the right of ways.

Commissioner Dustin Gabhart presented the highway report because Highway Commissioner David Holmes was not in attendance.

All of the Community Crossing grant work has been completed. Holmes will apply for more Community Crossing funding in July.

Old State Road 37 has been stripped.

Bridge crews are washing bridges and spraying weeds.