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Sheriff seeks grant for pepper‑ball less‑lethal weapons; commission authorizes chair to sign
Summary
Sheriff Tony Helms reported the jail had a minor health inspection write-up and said the department is converting to less‑lethal pepper‑ball guns, which he said cost about one‑third of a taser; the commission authorized Chairman Seay to sign a grant application for equipment.
Sheriff Tony Helms told commissioners that a recent health department inspection of the jail resulted in a write-up for one nonworking toilet and soap left in a shower. He said the jail is pursuing conversion to less‑lethal pepper‑ball launchers to reduce worker‑comp claims and officer physical confrontations, noting an in‑house instructor has been certified.
Helms said pepper‑ball weapons are less expensive than tasers and that he is applying for a grant to purchase pepper‑ball guns and ammunition. Commissioners voted 4-0 to allow Chairman Toby Seay to sign the grant application when it is complete. No dollar amount for the requested grant was recorded in the meeting minutes.
The transcript records Sheriff Helms' rationale for the shift to less‑lethal options as driven in part by the county insurance carrier's interest in reducing claims and by equipment cost considerations.
