After Prior Pushback, Nashville Police Receive Funding for New Tasers Round

Nashville City Council Approves Funding for New Tasers

After much deliberation and some previous resistance, the Nashville City Council has approved a $15 million contract for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) to acquire a new model of Tasers. This move comes as a point of contention among council members and the community due to concerns about law enforcement tactics and spending priorities.

Last Chance to Upgrade

Supporters of the contract argued that the council’s last meeting of the fiscal year, on Tuesday, was the final opportunity to allow the MNPD to upgrade to the TASER 10 model, from the TASER 7s currently in use. The department had received 1,400 units of the TASER 7 in 2022. As Councilmember Courtney Johnston brought up, “There’s about a million dollars that will be spent on 7s unless we approve this resolution to spend that money on 10s. Spend the money on the newer models and move on please.”

Increased Contract Value

The newly approved bill does more than just authorize the purchase of the latest Taser models. It also bolsters the value of the contract from $6.5 million to $15.75 million. Metro Finance clarified that the allocation will come directly from the police department’s budget, as already allocated by the city in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

Persistent Reservations

Despite these clarifications, some council members remain skeptical. Councilmember Ginny Welsh expressed concern stating, “Tasers are not de-escalation tools, they are weapons. We do not need to keep funneling money into the police department to buy more and more things to use against the citizenry of Nashville.” Her sentiments echo a broader concern about the militarization of local police departments and excessive use of force.

Previous Rejections

Nashville city council has a history of resisting these contracts. Last year, a similar $24 million proposal was rejected, with council members referring to the recent purchase of new Tasers just two years prior. Despite the earlier opposition, the recent bill received a majority vote with 29 members voting for its passage.

The Future of Policing in Nashville

As the debate over police funding continues in Nashville, the approval of this Taser contract illustrates the ongoing struggle to strike a balance between equipping officers with necessary tools and ensuring responsible spending. While new equipment may enhance officer safety and efficiency, questions of necessity and priority will undoubtedly continue to be raised.