Town Organizes Electrifying Fundraiser for Public Safety

Town Organizes Electrifying Fundraiser for Public Safety

There are thousands of ways to raise money to help enhance public safety in small towns across the US. Some that cross my mind are carnivals, bake sales, car washes or silent auctions; however, I tip my hat to the town of Van Meter, Iowa, who in my opinion, has won the award for most creative. Town Organizes Electrifying Fundraiser for Public Safety

With a population of just over 1,100, this small Iowan town is holding a raffle fundraiser for public safety. Seems pretty normal, right? Well, not exactly. You see, the one and only prize is offering citizens the chance to tase a public official. Nothing says “public safety” like 50,000 volts of electricity surging through the body!

This “bright” idea came up during a police force meeting when the topic of raising some extra money came up. After some joking, the terms were settled:

  • Tickets would cost $5 each;
  • The money raised would be used to purchase a second squad car; and
  • City Administrator Jake Anderson or fellow council member Bob Lacy would be the “tasees.”

Police Chief William Dagget was all for it since Tasers are supposedly only dangerous if someone has a prior medical condition or one of the prongs goes into or around the heart area. The thing with Tasers is that the effects are short and they don’t burn like pepper spray, so I’ve been told.

Although this is meant to be a fun way to raise money, a certified officer will be assisting with the actual tasing, probably because in the past 11 years, at least 540 people have died from Tasers.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Unique Oversized ID Card Printer

    Unique Oversized ID Card Printer

    Idesco Corp. is announcing its card printer – the XCR100 2.0 printer- that allows customers to personalize oversized ID cards on demand. The printer is ideal for assisting healthcare organizations find the right badging solution. As healthcare facilities continue to combat the spread of COVID-19, issuing oversized ID cards has helped identify staff clearly while adding an extra layer of security. The XCR100 2.0 printer is the only dye-sublimation printer on the market that can personalize CR100 cards (3.88" x 2.63"). The cards that are 42% larger than the standard credit card size. The printer can produce up to 180 full cards per hour in color, and up to 1,400 cards per hour in monochrome. An optional flipper is available to print dual-sided badges in one pass. Contactless encoding comes as an option to help healthcare facilities produce secure access badges on demand and the card printer features a 2-year warranty. 3

  • XS4 Original+

    XS4 Original+

    The SALTO XS4 Original+ design is based on the same proven housing and mechanical mechanisms of the XS4 Original. The XS4 Original+, however, is embedded with SALTO’s BLUEnet real-time functionality and SVN-Flex capability that enables SALTO stand-alone smart XS4 Original+ locks to update user credentials directly at the door. Compatible with the array of SALTO platform solutions including SALTO Space data-on-card, SALTO KS Keys as a Service cloud-based access solution, and SALTO’s JustIn Mobile technology for digital keys. The XS4 Original+ also includes RFID Mifare DESFire, Bluetooth LE and NFC technology functionality. 3

  • Kangaroo Home Security System

    Kangaroo Home Security System

    Kangaroo is the affordable, easy-to-install home security system designed for anyone who wants an added layer of peace of mind and protection. It has several products, ranging from the fan-favorite Doorbell Camera + Chime, to the more comprehensive Front Door Security Kit with Professional Monitoring. Regardless of the level of desired security, Kangaroo’s designed to move with consumers - wherever that next chapter may be. Motion sensors, keypads and additional features can be part of the package to any Kangaroo system in place, anytime. Additionally, Kangaroo offers scalable protection plans with a variety of benefits ranging from 24/7 professional monitoring to expanded cloud storage, coverage for damage and theft. 3