Protection vital for future, locals tell Mabus
August 17, 2010Back-to-school road safety tips for children and parents
August 19, 2010Port Fourchon Harbor Police will soon be outfitted with Tasers, courtesy of a unanimous vote by the Greater Lafourche Port Commission last Wednesday.
And the Tasers won’t arrive a moment too soon, according to Harbor Police Chief Jon Callais. The recent increase in temporary workers assigned to rid Port Fourchon beaches of Deepwater Horizon oil has also attracted a spike in battery cases and similar crimes.
“Our police are responding to more domestic-type incidents, such as fighting and the like,” Callais said. “The calls were are receiving are types [of incidents] we have not had to deal with very much in the past.
“The safety of our officers and the public is paramount and the Taser would be an effective weapon for them to carry and to be at their disposal in these types of situations,” he added.
Callais said he will also pursue other funding sources – grants and BP – to cover the cost of 15 Tasers. The non-lethal weapons run approximately $1,200 each, including the gun and cartridges.
To Commissioner Perry Gisclair’s query about the required training, Callais said officers must receive eight hours of training yearly to be certified to carry a Taser.
“Police are always in danger, especially at night,” board president Larry Griffin said, speaking in favor of the additional safeguards. “They should have all the protection that they can get.”
