Stunning development Public safety commish considers arming animal control officers with tasers
By Karen Forman	write the author
November 19, 2008 | 06:04 PM Brookhaven Town may arm its animal control officers with "taser" stun weapons. Officials are considering the unprecedented move to safeguard employees who face dangers executing their duties, such as three animal control officers who were "severely injured" on the job, according to Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C-Rocky Point). "The animal control officers themselves requested that we explore the use of tasers," Bonner said this week. Brookhaven would be the first town on Long Island to give animal control officers tasers, but according to Public Safety Commissioner Tony Gallino, that's not a fair comparison. "Our men are peace officers, which most animal control officers in other towns are not," the commissioner said. "So technically, I could arm them with firearms tomorrow if I wanted to, not that I would." Gallino, a retired police officer, noted that town animal control officers "are out there wrestling with these big dogs, trying to bring them into our shelter safely," and while "they all love animals," several employees have been hurt performing this duty. "There have been numerous injuries among our officers," Gallino said, adding town attorneys have informed him the taser decision is his to make, and he's "not committed to anything yet." "We're just educating ourselves at this point," the commissioner added. "We need to weigh all the options and not shoot from the hip on this." Councilwoman Connie Kepert (D-Middle Island) is all about weighing options. The councilwoman — who noted an animal-control taser policy "raises a lot of questions" — said she's surprised the matter hasn't come before the Town Board and apparently doesn't require a public hearing. "I have made a strong recommendation that we have a public hearing on this," Kepert said. "I have heard of only two officers who were injured — one had his shoulder pulled out while he had a pit bull on the catch pole and one officer was knocked over." "Both myself and Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld (D-Setauket) had many questions concerning the necessity of such a drastic change in policy," she added, "and have both stated that we would not support it." The taser idea first arose when Brookhaven Animal Shelter Director Charlie McGinley made a Nov. 6 presentation before the Town Board at the request of animal control officers, who according to Public Information Officer Kevin Molloy want a "nonlethal way" of protecting themselves in the field. McGinley was unavailable for comment this week. Animal control officers would be trained in taser use by the Suffolk County Police Department, Gallino said, and "strict guidelines" would determine when they could use the weapons. "There are checks and balances with this," the commissioner said. "The tasers would be used only if the officer's life was in danger. We want to be humane to the animals. We are not shooting to kill." Modern tasers create a memory log every time they're fired, and McGinley noted that supervisors can "check the weapon monthly to see how often and for how long the weapon was discharged." No town-run animal shelter or animal-control department on Long Island currently uses tasers. Town of Huntington Animal Shelter Supervisor John Thompson said his employees are not peace officers and therefore cannot be armed, and added he wouldn't consider tasers if they could. Sue Hassett, director of the Town of North Hempstead Animal Shelter, concurred. "We definitely don't use them and wouldn't consider it," Hassett said. "I would like to give Brookhaven the benefit of the doubt — Charlie's a good guy — but what would warrant using tasers? We don't even carry tranquilizer guns." While they "often find themselves entering highly dangerous situations," Islip animal control officers also don't utilize tasers, according to Islip Town Animal Shelter Supervisor Joanne Daly. However, "the decision of whether or not to use tasers should really be left up to each town," in Daly's opinion. Tasers, or "conducted energy devices," are high-voltage, low-current electrical weapons designed to incapacitate by causing involuntary, temporary muscular disruptions. Using compressed nitrogen as a propellent, similar to a paintball gun, they fire small darts connected to the taser by thin wires; when the darts find their target, the weapon emits a series of electrical pulses. On its website (www.nacanet.org), the National Animal Control Association states that EMDDs — electro muscular disruption devices — are not recommended for the control or capture of animals. That's similar to the stance taken by Suffolk County Unleashed, a grassroots group that champions the creation of dog parks. SCU President Gina Lewis said her organization opposes the use of tasers on dogs and feels animal control officers should be trained to handle aggressive dogs without using these weapons. "No other shelter on Long Island feels the need for tasers, so why Brookhaven?" Lewis asked. "I question the leadership of a shelter director who condones such a measure, and a town council that supports it." Bonner noted the tasers would not be used inside Brookhaven Animal Shelter and stressed that "no decision has been made yet."