Christiansburg officials hear vendor pitch for $1.9 million public‑safety tech renewal

A vendor demonstration at the Christiansburg Town Council budget work session on the proposed five‑year public‑safety technology renewal emphasized longer-range conducted electrical weapons, expanded body‑worn camera features and bundled virtual‑reality training.

The presenter said the TASER 10 fires one probe per trigger pull with a claimed 45‑foot effective range, which they argued gives officers "more time to think" and additional options to de‑escalate before resorting to lethal force. "Taser 10 is a 1 probe device per trigger pull with a 45 foot max distance," the presenter said.

Why it matters: Council members pressed for detail on safety, legal exposure and cost as the package would replace the department's current TASER 7s and expand evidence and data‑management services. The vendor identified a five‑year contract total of $1,900,000 for devices, training, software licenses and data storage seats.

Vendor claims and police context The presenter described several operational advantages: single‑probe aiming (allowing a second aimed shot if the first misses), audible feedback when a good connection is made, up to 10 cartridges per device and integrated VR scenarios for reality‑based training. The chief (identified in the meeting as Chief Ramsey) said two‑probe devices often miss in dynamic encounters because targets move or are angled, and that the TASER 10 would increase the likelihood of an effective connection in such circumstances.

"You have more time to think, and you also have the greater ability to get that connection," Chief Ramsey said during the presentation.

The vendor also demonstrated body‑worn camera features (Axon Body 4): 12‑hour battery design, magnetic charging, real‑time GPS pings when recording, live‑streaming to command staff during critical incidents and "priority upload" to headquarters for time‑sensitive evidence review. The presenter said record‑and‑transcribe functions will auto‑generate searchable transcripts in evidence.com and that AI redaction creates a redacted copy while preserving the original footage.

Health and liability questions Council members raised direct health and safety concerns. One councilor asked whether a conducted energy device could cause a stroke or a fatal cardiac event. The vendor replied that extensive testing shows those outcomes are rare and asserted a likelihood of serious adverse events of "less than 0.1 percent" in the tests they described. The presenter and Chief Ramsey cautioned that other factors—such as intoxicants or stimulants found on autopsy—frequently appear in cases where a person died after being tased.

Legal context and oversight Speakers referenced court guidance affecting local use policies; the presenter noted a Fourth Circuit ruling that has governed regional practice. The meeting also covered evidence retention and legal compliance: the town retains ownership of its data, the vendor said, while the company provides cloud storage and licenses (evidence.com) that the town must maintain under state retention rules.

Cost and procurement The presenter listed a five‑year contract total of $1,900,000 and explained the need for annual license seats and storage capacity that drive ongoing costs. Council members asked whether one‑time capital receipts would be used for recurring costs; staff answered that one‑time money should not be programmed for ongoing operating expenses.

What comes next Council did not take a vote at the session; the vendor presentation and follow‑up questions were part of the broader budget work session. Officials said contract specifics, final pricing tables and implementation details would be circulated in writing ahead of the budget adoption vote. The budget adoption is scheduled for May 12, and staff committed to circulating a detailed document of answers at least one week prior to that date.