The Battle Ground Police Department (BGPD) has begun implementing new Axon Taser 10 devices, marking a significant technological upgrade and improving officer and community safety.
The rollout started on Friday, Feb. 7, with two officers undergoing specialized training to lead the department-wide transition.
Battle Ground Police Chief Dennis Flynn confirmed that the department remains committed to Axon, the vendor that has supplied both tasers and body-worn cameras to the force.
“One of the reasons is it almost doubles the effectiveness of the new technology versus the older one,” Flynn said. “The old tasers used to use 50,000 volts. Somehow, Axon was able to, with the new tasers, get the same effectiveness with only 1,000 volts.”
The new devices also enhance officer accountability. Similar to the officer’s firearm, the officer’s body-worn camera activates as soon as the taser is pulled from its holster.
“As soon as the taser is pulled from its holster, the body-worn cameras automatically activate,” Flynn explained.
This feature complements existing technology that activates cameras when an officer’s firearm is drawn.
The Axon Taser 10 marks a significant advancement in functionality. Unlike earlier models that required two darts to connect for activation, the Taser 10 can deploy up to 10 individual darts, with up to three being activated at a time. It prioritizes darts that hit vital areas, providing officers with more options if the initial deployment fails due to obstacles such as baggy clothing.
The department has acquired enough tasers to equip all 30 commissioned officers. Before full deployment, officers must undergo certification in the new technology. Sergeant Bob Scott and officer Max Everett have already completed an eight-hour training session and will oversee the training of the remaining officers.
The purchase of the new tasers was part of a bundled contract approved by the Battle Ground City Council in October 2024. The contract also included the department’s body-worn camera system, which received $365,200 in general and state grant funding. Flynn stated that this integration ensures a seamless approach to safety and accountability.
“We just believe in always looking at being able to use technology to our advantage,” Flynn said. “We have to make sure that whatever technology is available, whether it’s the body-worn camera, the tasers or our drone program, we have to make sure that it’s being used responsibly and that we have guidelines for its use and that our officers are properly trained before it’s deployed.”
