Sharp County Sheriff's Office Prepares to Replace Aging Tasers

SHARP COUNTY, Ark. — The Sharp County Sheriff’s Office will soon upgrade its equipment after receiving funding from Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's office to purchase two new tasers. The $10,000 grant, awarded in a letter dated Sept. 10, marks the first such replacement for the department since 2013, according to Sheriff Shane Russell.

“It’s time to upgrade and to get new, and that comes at a cost,” Russell said, noting that some of the department’s current tasers are no longer functional.

The Sharp County Sheriff’s Office currently has about 20 tasers in its stock, but replacing all of them would cost over $100,000. Each new device is priced at approximately $5,000, making the grant a small step toward updating the department’s aging equipment.

Many of the older tasers, some dating back to 2013, are single-shot models. By contrast, newer models now offer a 10-shot capacity. Highlighting the technological difference, Russell described the upgrades as a "big difference" in law enforcement capability.

Local resident Jim Dixon of Evening Shade supported the equipment purchase but emphasized the importance of consistent maintenance and preparedness across county services. He pointed to recent natural disasters, such as the tornado that struck Cave City in March 2025 and flooding in Hardy the following month, as examples of the ongoing need for well-maintained resources.

"They shouldn’t wait until they get in bad shape and decide to do something,” Dixon said. “If they stay on it all the time, you won’t have that problem.”

According to Russell, the Attorney General's Office also reached out to offer assistance during those storms, a gesture he said highlights a willingness to support local law enforcement in times of need. However, with nearly the entire stock of tasers still awaiting replacement, Russell acknowledged there is still much work to be done.

The two new tasers funded by the grant are expected to arrive soon, providing an initial step toward a more modern and reliable fleet of equipment for the sheriff’s department.