news-record.com

HIGH POINT — Local law enforcement officials will participate in a town hall-style discussion regarding using Tasers in public schools.

The event is sponsored by the High Point Human Relations Department and YWCA of High Point as part of its Front Porch Conversations Series.

It will be held at noon Thursday at the High Point YWCA at 112 Gatewood Ave.

Those participating include High Point Police Chief Jim Fealy and Guilford County Sheriff BJ Barnes.

The meeting comes less than a week after law enforcement officials defended school-based officers having Tasers despite concerns raised by some Guilford County school board members.

Greensboro police officers working as school resource officers were armed with Tasers for the first time this year.

High Point school resource officers were also equipped with Tasers for the first time this year.

The school board has discussed the issue of Tasers in schools since the sheriff’s office began arming deputies with the weapons in 2007, but the debate has heated up in recent weeks.

Several parents and community members have addressed the board on the issue since a school resource officer used a Taser on a female student at Ragsdale High in September.

Days later, another resource officer was injured breaking up a fight at Northeast High. The sheriff’s office said the deputy did not use a Taser because of the previous controversy.

The school district contracts with the law enforcement agencies to provide school resource officers at almost every middle and high school. Nearly all officers are armed with a Taser.