BART Board Approves Taser Gun Purchases

BART's board of directors voted unanimously today to spend up to $141,000 on the purchase of 130 more Tasers to allow all of its police officers to have their own stun guns.

The BART Police Department currently has 60 Tasers and many officers aren't equipped with the stun guns.

BART staff members said in a report that giving each officer a Taser would increase the officers' comfort level with the weapons.

The issue of officers' training and familiarity with Tasers was raised by lawyers for former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter last year for fatally shooting passenger Oscar Grant III at the Fruitvale station in Oakland on Jan. 1, 2009.

Mehserle admitted he shot and killed Grant after responding to a report of a fight on a train but said he had meant to use his Taser instead of his service revolver.

BART spokesman Linton Johnson said the transit agency will get the new Tasers before the current fiscal year ends on June 30.

Johnson said BART previously had a voluntary policy under which officers could choose whether to carry Tasers, but now all officers will be required to carry Tasers once they get proper training on the devices.

BART staff members say each Taser costs $815 plus an additional $185 for a four-year extended warranty. Shipping and handling for 130 Tasers costs $400.

Bay City News Service