KIMBALL -- Law enforcement agencies will have an opportunity to participate in a professional training course in the Panhandle Region this summer. 

The Kimball Police Department will host a Taser Instructor Course on July 21 - 22 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

The course is open to any law enforcement agency to become a certified Taser Instructor, giving them the qualifications to teach others at their own agencies. 

Similar to the PepperBall Instructor Course that the department hosted last month, the department wants to host this training because it is difficult for smaller departments like the KPD to attend training sessions that are held across Nebraska or out-of-state. 

“Most police agencies utilize a taser so it's important that we have an instructor in the area to keep our officers certified,” said Chief of Police Jose Ruiz. “We are almost fully self-sufficient to be able to certify officers in-house instead of sending them elsewhere for training. After we get a certified Taser Instructor, the only other instructor we need on our force is a rifle instructor.” 

The use of tasers allows officers to have an additional tool to safely subdue a suspect. 

“It’s important to have different options and tools so we don’t just rely on one thing, which is why we also train on defensive tactics like jujitsu and wrestling so that we don’t have to use Tasers and PepperBall,” Ruiz said. 

The KPD officers get a refresher on Taser use annually and recertify every 2 years. Instructors need to re-certify every two years as well.

Spaces are limited, so be sure to register early. For more information and to sign up, contact the Kimball Police Department at 308-235-3615.