Topeka police plan to order more stun guns

Topeka — Topeka police have been impressed enough with the crime-fighting performance of Taser stun guns that they plan to order 18 more of the shocking devices.

The tasers can zap resisting suspects with 50,000 volts of electricity but leave them unharmed after the initial shock. Taser International, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., claims there have been no long-term injuries in 20 years of medical studies on its products.

Sgt. Dave Thomas said Topeka police have used Tasers 15 times in the past 18 months. He said none of the resisting people suffered injuries, including one person who was shocked twice.

“The bad guys are now hearing about them and are starting to give up even when they see it pulled from the holster,” Thomas said.

The Tasers cost $399 each, and the department plans to buy more as money becomes available.

“We found that they were very effective in reducing injuries to police officers and to suspects that were combative with the police officers,” Lt. John Sidwell said.

Radio: KPR wins awards from Associated Press

Kansas Public Radio won seven awards, including a first-place, from the Kansas-Missouri Associated Press during an awards ceremony May 10 in Kansas City, Mo.

The Kansas University-based National Public Radio affiliate earned first place in the Small Market Spot News/Live Event category for its election-night coverage last November. It also earned second place in the category for Gov. Bill Graves’ final State of the State address and honorable mentions for stories on legislative redistricting and a gubernatorial debate at the Kansas State Fair.

Laura Lorson took second place in the Small Market Best Newscast category for a Sept. 24 newscast she anchored during “Morning Edition.”

Bryan Thompson, children’s health reporter, took second place in Small Market Enterprise Reporting for “Teens for Safe Driving,” a segment of his series, “Kansas Kids: A Prescription for Change.”

Honorable mention in that category went to “Forgotten Teens,” another in the “Kansas Kids” series.