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Bainbridge police enter 'new age' of police equipment

Friday, February 13, 2009
By MARIBETH WARD, Staff Writer

BAINBRIDGE -- According to Bainbridge Town Marshal Rodney Fenwick, there is a new age coming in police equipment.

His department recently acquired a new Taser gun, one of several purchased by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department.

"Somewhere between hand-to-hand and using lethal weapons (on offenders), it's better to use the Taser gun," Fenwick told the Bainbridge Town Council at their monthly meeting Wednesday.

"There is a new age of equipment coming. The military has been working with them for a while. Officers in Florida have been using them in the major cities for one-and-a-half to two years now. There used to be 100 to 150 assaults, now they are down to zero," said Fenwick.

The Taser Electronic Control Device (ECD) uses a replaceable cartridge containing compressed nitrogen to deploy two small probes that are attached to the gun by insulated conductive wires with a maximum length of 35 feet (10.6 meters). It then transmits electrical pulses through the wires and into the body, affecting the sensory and motor functions of the peripheral nervous system. The energy can penetrate up to two cumulative inches of clothing, or one inch per probe.

"It lasts for five seconds and then the person is fine. Prisoners call it 'taking the electric ride,'" Fenwick said.

"The Putnam County Jail is starting to use the Taser, as are prisons and many police forces," he added.

He plans to add another Taser to his equipment list so that both police cars have one. Fenwick has already been trained by the Sheriff's department and plans to train his deputies.

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  • Not only are they trained on the use of these tasers but in order to be able to use one you must first be tasered yourself at the training so that you know exactly what if feels like. This training is a MUST before you can use a taser.

    -- Posted by Cougars on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 5:58 AM

  • Just another useless toy to give the police. Just what we need is to give Barney Fife another toy in a town of little to no crime! Keep ******* away our tax dollars!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 8:33 AM

  • Oh my gosh, that is all I can think of.

    -- Posted by tjchopper on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 9:24 AM

  • HEY 1STAMENDMENT RIGHTS...HAVE YOU STOPPED TO THINK THAT IF EVERYONE COOPERATED WITH THE POLICE THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO USE THE TASERS...DUH!

    -- Posted by Michele1953 on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 11:09 AM

  • It is NOT a useless toy. Any crime or assault diverted in better than one not diverted. I am a reserve officer and I had to be struck with a Taser before I could carry one. It's not fun being hit with one, but it's better than me getting my a** beat.

    -- Posted by Dagnabbit on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 11:25 AM

  • You can call him Barney Fife all you want but there is a reason that there is little to no crime in the town of Bainbridge. May not interact well with people but good at what he does. Can't say the same about other small towns.

    -- Posted by Cougars on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 1:44 PM

  • Next they will be spending $ 20,000 on a K-9.

    -- Posted by Harmony Church on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 4:05 PM

  • Waist of Bainbridge tax dollars!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 5:25 PM

  • I guess they didnt my idea that the cops need more CPI training and exercise then spending money on tasers! It only makes sense people!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 5:36 PM

  • 1st amendwhoeveryouare,

    Go back to sleep.

    -- Posted by magoo55 on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 6:49 PM

  • Michele1953

    You do not have to "cooperate" with the police. Evidently "1953" refers to the date of your last legal comprehension prior to the landmark cases on citizens rights.

    No mention of how many deaths these things have caused.

    -- Posted by reckman on Fri, Feb 13, 2009, at 7:31 PM

  • another dumb comment brought to you by magoo!

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Sat, Feb 14, 2009, at 4:50 AM

  • 1stamendrights reread the article Bainbridge did not buy the taser. It was donated to them by the sherriff's department. And what difference does it make if Bainbridge did buy it, Bainbridge is one of few towns in the surrounding area that is not having "money issues"!! Nothing stolen or not paid or uncollected late fees! Bainbridge is truly on the up and up!!

    -- Posted by Cougars on Sat, Feb 14, 2009, at 12:25 PM

  • The gun was purchased by the Putnam County sheriff and where do you think that money comes from off trees???

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Sat, Feb 14, 2009, at 3:48 PM

  • Plus they will be able to jump start cars......

    -- Posted by honestyisbestpolicy on Sat, Feb 14, 2009, at 11:34 PM

  • Okay, the comment about the K-9 should be remembered when that dog is used to find a lost child or an escaped inmate in your neighborhood.

    Also, the only people with taser issues are those who frequently encounter officers and who tend to be disorderly. Officers dont just get out of their cars and tase people, these are used to stop criminals when words have not and before someone else gets injured or violated!

    People, please remember for every criminal, there is a victim and it is that person that we need to be concerned about protecting.

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Sun, Feb 15, 2009, at 1:51 PM

  • Well said WTF. Thank you. And the money comes from seizures and not tax $$.

    -- Posted by longtime resident on Sun, Feb 15, 2009, at 4:11 PM

  • I see your point in regards to a lost child. Not too worried about a escaped inmate because if comes knocking on or down my door he will cease to exist on planet earth.

    -- Posted by Harmony Church on Sun, Feb 15, 2009, at 4:42 PM

  • 1stamendmendrights,

    Please check the facts before you post.

    -- Posted by fact_checker on Sun, Feb 15, 2009, at 6:06 PM

  • O.M.G.Please dont tell Roachdale.

    -- Posted by jcromwell1 on Mon, Feb 16, 2009, at 1:19 PM

  • i like how mr. fenwick says hes going to train his officer with the tazer, last time i looked the officers he has left, they all work for the sheriffs dept already, im guessing fenwick got trained by the sheriffs dept. good try for getting credit fenwick

    -- Posted by bigpapa on Mon, Feb 16, 2009, at 2:27 PM

  • IF JCROMWELL WOULD HAVE GONE TO A MEETING OVER 6 MONTHS AGO, THEY WOULD KNOW THAT ROACHDALE ALREADY HAS TASERS, AND THAT ALL DEPARTMENT MEMBERS WENT THROUGH THE TRAINING. O.M.G. YOU LIVE IN ROACHDALE, SO GOOD JOB MAKING THE VERY TOWN YOU LIVE IN AS WELL AS YOURSELF LOOK STUPID!

    -- Posted by RDALERESIDENT on Mon, Feb 16, 2009, at 3:30 PM

  • Yes I have read the facts before I posted. Fact checker created his account just to respond to my comment that means alot.

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Tue, Feb 17, 2009, at 9:15 PM

  • CPI is Crisis prevention intervention, it is used to restrain people in a nonviolent manner. Something better then using a taser gun. What if someone has a bad heart a taser can't be good to ones health. I would like to see the officers trained to handle issues in a non violent way. Whats cheaper Rodney on a tredmill and trained to use non violent force or taser guns?

    -- Posted by 1stamendrights on Wed, Feb 18, 2009, at 1:25 PM

  • ya'll up north are starting 2 catch up!

    -- Posted by insanityur on Fri, Feb 20, 2009, at 12:19 PM

  • I watched Fenwick bust a guy that was running from the police one time. He kind of amazed me. The guy got out of the truck he was driving just up the road from my house and Fenwick went after him on foot. I never knew he could move so fast. The guy was flat on his face on the ground in handcuffs before I realized what was going on. Every time I have ever needed Fenwick, he was right there almost immediately. After living in several big cities, I appreciate Fenwick a lot! So, Tasers in capable hands don't bother me.

    -- Posted by AnnieO on Sat, Feb 21, 2009, at 2:44 PM

  • THE TASER IS A TOOL FOR LAW INFORCEMENT ... HAVING BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAW AND WATCHING THEM RESIST ARREST . I AM ONE WHO WILL SUPPORT THE OFFICERS WHO USE THEM AND REMEMBER WHAT THE OLD TIMER SAID............... WHO IS BETWEEN US AND THEM.........

    -- Posted by the quiet one on Thu, Dec 10, 2009, at 6:26 PM
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