TUCSON, Ariz. — Tasers have been approved by the Tucson Unified School Board on Monday after a unanimous vote with little discussion.
The $200,000 approved by the board will pay for conducted energy devices or tasers as they're commonly known, it also pays for body cams.
The District's School Safety Director, Jeff Coleman, laid out a proposal Monday to TUSD leadership.
The idea is to arm safety officers with tasers so they may use a "less lethal" method of force.
As part of Coleman's proposal, no taser will be used on a student unless the use of deadly force is justified.
Coleman said they're focusing mainly on intruders and trespassers.
Coleman explained to the board who will be equipped with the tasers.
"It's for the 24 central school safety officers who respond to issues at the campuses around the clock, everyday of the year." Coleman said.
"For instance: nights and weekends we respond to about 2500 alarm calls. so that's the people I'm talking about. Calls of people outside the fence are looking in, just people that they don't know who they are, walking around the schools, those are the type of calls that we go to everyday somewhere."
Coleman added the $200,000 approved Monday night will also pay for body cams to help increase transparency.
Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo said during the meeting, the district still has to establish a TUSD policy on the use of the tasers and body cams.
