NATCHEZ — Adams County Sheriff’s Office deputies began carrying new Tasers last week, at least the deputies who were willing to be Tased themselves first.

Adams County Sheriff Travis Patten said 31 ACSO deputies underwent the training that wrapped up Monday in order for them to be able to carry the new Taser X2 models.

Of the deputies, who were trained approximately seven had to endure being Tased, Patten said.

“In order for you to carry a Taser, according to our policy,” Patten said, “you have to have been Tasered yourself.”

Most of the deputies undergoing training for the new Tasers, Patten said, had already been Tased in prior training and did not have to do it again.

Patten said the new Tasers were necessary because the old Tasers were no longer under warranty.

“Taser wouldn’t support us if we used them because they were outdated,” Patten said, “so we got some new Tasers, 36 of them.”

Lt. Cal Green said the Taser X2 models are normally $720 each, including Taser holsters and cartridges.

“We got a discount with trade in and our cost was $560,” Green said for a total cost of $20,160.

Patten said Sgt. Lee Vest and Lt. Stanley Searcy of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office do training for the new Tasers in house and several officers from surrounding areas attended the training sessions as well.

Patten said the Tasers are another tool in the deputies’ belts that allow them to save lives.

“Our goal is not to use the Tasers if we don’t have to and for us it is just another means of how to save a life rather than to take a life,” Patten said. “I will tell people this, if they don’t want an officer to deploy a Taser, become compliant so the Taser doesn’t get used on them. We don’t want to have to use anything on our belt that we don’t have to but if the situation calls for it we most certainly will.”