Sugar Grove to accept ILEAS grant for six Axon Taser 7 units; board authorizes acceptance

Police Chief Patrick Valens reported the village was awarded ILEAS funding in a second round of distributions to purchase Axon Tasers. Chief Valens said the award covers acquisition of six Taser 7 devices and that the program is 100 percent reimbursable once the village submits the required paperwork; staff noted the cutoff date for submitting paperwork was that day.

Trustees asked whether the models in the award were the latest available. Chief Valens said Taser 10 is the newest model in the market but that the village’s current fleet and this award cover Taser 7 devices; some agencies locally have moved to Taser 10, which offers a two-shot deployment. Chief Valens said the Taser 7 is the model the village is deploying now.

A trustee thanked the chief for pursuing grants, noting that the cost — discussed in the meeting as roughly $17,000 — represented a meaningful amount for the department, even though staff said the purchase will be fully reimbursed. The board voted by roll call to authorize acceptance of the ILEAS funds and to proceed with the purchase and reimbursement process. Police staff will submit the reimbursement paperwork to ILEAS as directed.