Lake Bluff Cops Are Getting Tasers

The village of Lake Bluff is extremely safe.

That’s not only the opinion of residents and visitors, but Police Chief David Belmonte as well.

But that does not mean incidents in the small village tucked in between Lake Forest and North Chicago never occur or that police there shouldn’t be prepared if they do.

Lake Bluff trustees approved a request to buy 13 Tasers for $35,600 late last month, according to the Lake Forester. After one year, the village will pay $4,120 annually for a warranty and after five years, all 13 units will be replaced with new equipment at no cost.

All tasers will be equipped with a camera, so every time the device is used there will be a recording.

“One thing that came to light was a need for less lethal weapons for officers,”said Belmonte, who reported the last time a Lake Bluff officer fired a gun at a person was in 1965. “That was combined with our insurance carrier strongly looking for less lethal options.”

Village Administrator Drew Irvin also supports the addition of tasers.

“The ability to have more tools in the toolbox is a plus,” he said. “That it’s a less lethal tool, that’s an opportunity we should act on and make available to them.”

more via the Lake Forester