PHOTOS: New ‘Less-Than-Lethal’ Option for Saugerties Police Department

The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office announced an important change this week after one of the most important items on their utility belts was discontinued.

There have been several changes at the SCSO in recent years, beginning with their Police Reform and Reinvention Plan in 2021, which reviewed procedures including standard patrols, de-escalation techniques, and the use of "the minimum amount of force necessary in a given situation."

New Non-Lethal Options for Sullivan County Sheriff's Office

Recently, one of the Sheriff's Office's "less-than-lethal" options, the Taser X26P (below), was discontinued. The roughly $1,400 TASER will soon be replaced with a different option.

Former Sheriff's Office TASERS Discontinued

The SCSO shared that their TASER X26P models will be replaced with TASER 7 models, and sheriff deputies have already began training (below). There are a few key differences with the new upgrades.

New TASER & Models Arrive at Sullivan County Sheriff's Office

In addition to an increased cost (the civilian version of the TASER 7 is listed at $1,699), the new "energy weapon" is reported to be more effective, and is equipped with a "back-up shot", which supplies an additional discharge without the need to reload a new cartridge.

What Is a TASER?

TASER, which is an acronym for "Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle", is a weapon intended to incapacitate its target with a large jolt of electricity. The most popular models use two darts propelled by compressed gas and connected by copper wires that complete an electric circuit when they lodge into the body.

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New Job Opportunities at the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office

Recently, the Sheriff's Office announced upcoming employment opportunities. The civil service exam for prospective police officers and sheriffs deputies will be held on May 3rd 2025, with applications being accepted until March 26th 2025.