All Berkeley Police Officers Now Have Tasers

BERKELEY, NJ — All of Berkeley's sworn police officers will now have tasers. If a situation becomes violent, the tasers give police another option before using deadly force, the department said in its announcement.

The deployment comes after nearly a year of training that includes Use of Force, Attorney General Guidelines and detailed, hands-on exercises.

Chief Karin KiMichele initiated the taser program with the support of Mayor Carmen Amato and Township Council. Lt. Brian Woermer designed and implemented the pgoram with help from the Ocean County Prosecutors Office, Sgt. Michael Heale and Manchester Police Lt. James Komsa.

"The majority of police/citizen contact does not involve force," the Berkeley Township Police Department said. "Officers are able to diffuse situations verbally through the skills acquired from experience and training. Inevitably there will be times that violent encounters and the utilization of force will occur."

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