Officers in the Andalusia Police Department are now equipped with tasers.

APD Chief Paul Hudson said all uniformed officers received policy and procedure training, as well as equipment training and received certification to use the conducted electrical weapons from certified taser instructors before they began carrying the weapons on Friday.

Officers who have been authorized to carry the tasers were exposed to the device and tested on their knowledge of handling the device before they received certification, he said.

Additionally, Hudson said he has implemented a detailed, ADECA-approved departmental policy that will be followed by police department employees.

“The decision to add this tool to the officer’s duty belt was not made lightly,” Hudson said. “All area departments carry tasers. Andalusia was the only local law enforcement agency who was not equipped with them. Thankfully, we deal with very few incidents that would require the use of the taser. However, I want my officers to be prepared, trained, and equipped for when and if those times do arise. With the addition of this equipment, I feel that our officers will be able to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities.”

The purchase of the equipment was made possible by a grant awarded by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs in May 2017 and donations from local businesses.