ELYRIA — City officials are moving forward with a plan to sell 79 older police tasers and related equipment to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office for a total of $50,000, following a recent upgrade in department technology.
During a committee meeting, officials said the Elyria Police Department recently transitioned from Taser 7 devices to the newer Taser 10 model, leaving dozens of older units in storage.
“We’ve currently got 79 Taser 7s along with all of the equipment with those… those are in storage currently,” a department official said.
Rather than listing the equipment for sale through a public auction platform, the city is proposing a direct sale to the sheriff’s office, which expressed interest in purchasing the items.
“The only other option for us would be to list them… on GovDeals and make that available only to law enforcement,” the official said.
City officials said the proposed $50,000 price tag represents fair market value for the equipment, which includes tasers, batteries, cartridges, holsters, and related gear.
The decision to sell directly to another law enforcement agency was described as a more efficient process compared to listing the equipment for broader bidding.
“We think that the market value we’re getting in return is fair,” a city official said during the discussion.
Members of council also noted the importance of recovering value from outdated equipment rather than allowing it to sit unused.
“I think… we’re able to find these ways to not just lose this stuff without any kind of financial impact to the city,” one council member said.
If approved, the sale would transfer the equipment to the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office, allowing the department to repurpose the items while providing the city with additional revenue.
