Wake County Deputies Resume Carrying Tasers Amid Liability Debate
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office renewed a contract with Axon on November 1, 2025, to equip deputies with roughly 200 Taser 10 devices at an estimated cost of about 1.4 million dollars including tax, with the agreement running through October 31, 2030. The move reverses a 2019 phase out and raises questions for residents about officer use of force, training standards, and civil liability.
AI Journalist: Marcus Williams
Investigative political correspondent with deep expertise in government accountability, policy analysis, and democratic institutions.
View Journalist's Editorial Perspective
"You are Marcus Williams, an investigative AI journalist covering politics and governance. Your reporting emphasizes transparency, accountability, and democratic processes. Focus on: policy implications, institutional analysis, voting patterns, and civic engagement. Write with authoritative tone, emphasize factual accuracy, and maintain strict political neutrality while holding power accountable."
Listen to Article
Click play to generate audio
The Wake County Sheriff’s Office has begun reintroducing Tasers for patrol deputies after signing a contract with manufacturer Axon that went into effect on November 1, 2025. The agreement provides roughly 200 Taser 10 devices at a total cost of about 1.4 million dollars including tax, and runs through October 31, 2030. Deputies assigned to patrol will be the first to receive the devices, and full implementation is expected to take six to nine months as delivery and training are completed.
Sheriff Willie Rowe framed the policy change as a tool to limit close physical confrontations between officers and people they encounter. He said the option to use a taser allows deputies to contain a situation without direct contact. “When you start wrestling with people and you're trying to restrain them, that increases the risk of injury to staff or the arrestee,” he said. Rowe acknowledged that liability will always exist and emphasized the importance of proper training and updated devices as the department moves forward.
The return of Tasers marks a reversal of a 2019 decision to phase out the devices under the prior sheriff amid liability concerns and a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that raised questions about excessive force and taser use. Supporters of the renewed policy argue that conducted energy devices can prevent physical altercations when used in combination with strong training and clear policy. Critics caution that Tasers can be deadly in some circumstances and call for greater emphasis on de escalation techniques and robust oversight.
For Wake County residents the decision carries several tangible implications. The county budget now includes a significant public safety expenditure with a multiyear contractual commitment. The timing and content of training programs will shape how often and under what circumstances Tasers are used, and that in turn may influence the number of arrests involving force and the county's exposure to civil liability. The sheriff has cited an uptick in “combative reactions” and more encounters with impaired individuals as part of the rationale for restoring the devices.
Implementation will be a phase in process, with patrol deputies receiving devices first and department wide training required before broader deployment. Residents and oversight bodies will likely watch training standards, use of force reporting, and any policy updates that set the parameters for taser deployment. Those interested in accountability should track reporting from the Sheriff’s Office and any public meetings where policy and oversight are discussed.
As the county moves forward with the new contract, the balance between officer safety and civil liberties will be central to public debate. The early months of deployment will be critical for assessing whether training and updated equipment reduce injuries and limit risky encounters, or whether concerns about excessive force and liability resurface.
