District agrees to assume full liability for donated Tasers

County has offered 18 stun guns

In order to receive a donation of 18 Tasers from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, the Gateway school board has agreed to assume full liability for the donated weapons. The Tasers would be used by the school district’s police force.

At their Nov. 21 meeting, school directors approved a resolution stating that the district would provide the county with hold harmless provisions in order to receive the Tasers.

The school board in October voted to accept the donated Tasers, but Allegheny County Council has yet to approve the donation.

“Apparently [Allegheny County’s] attorney has had some second thoughts because of a lawsuit that was filed against the Taser manufacturer, and they’re concerned about liability if something may happen while they are in our use that we would come back and sue them if there was a problem with the Tasers,” school board member Mary Beth Cirucci said.

Ms. Cirucci said the lawsuit did not result in a payout and the model X26 Tasers were not recalled. She added that the model is the same used by the Monroeville Police Department.

Ms. Cirucci said the district’s police force has requested five Tasers this year, which would cost a total of about $5,000.

“I think we should move forward with this,” board member Chad Stubenbort said about acquiring the donated Tasers.

He added that they are not budgeted for in the current year’s budget.

“We hired a police force and they determined what they needed for their equipment,” Ms. Cirucci said. She added that Tasers are “standard issue carry” for officers in Pennsylvania.

“We hired a police force and they determined what they needed for their equipment.” Mary Beth Cirucci, school board member