Wake County Commissioners Approve $1.4 Million Contract to Reintroduce TASERs for Sheriff’s Deputies
Five-year agreement with Axon Enterprise includes 200 TASER 10 devices, virtual training, and evidence management software
Raleigh, NC, Oct. 7, 2025 — Wake County is returning to the use of electronic control weapons after several years without issuing them to new deputies. On Monday, the Wake County Board of Commissioners approved a five-year, $1.4 million contract with Axon Enterprise (website), the Arizona-based manufacturer of TASER devices, to equip and train the Wake County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) with the latest TASER 10 model (product) and related technology.
The agreement, which begins next month, authorizes Axon to provide 200 TASER 10 units, accessories, cloud-based evidence management, and comprehensive virtual-reality training for deputies. The total cost over the contract term is approximately $1.44 million, paid in annual installments through 2030.
What the Contract Covers
The contract bundles TASER 10 weapons, replacement cartridges, batteries, holsters, and safety equipment with Axon’s Evidence software (product), which allows secure digital storage of use-of-force data. Deputies will also receive virtual-reality training modules designed to simulate high-stress encounters and reinforce de-escalation tactics.
The agreement was executed under a sole-source procurement, meaning Axon was identified as the only available vendor authorized to sell and service TASER-brand equipment in the United States.
The Sheriff’s Office may terminate the agreement with 30 days’ written notice. Axon is required to indemnify and hold the county harmless against claims arising from performance or use of its products, except where the county is solely negligent.
Background: TASERs in Wake County
The Sheriff’s Office previously phased out issuing stun guns to new deputies in 2019, following revisions to its use-of-force policy. At that time, legal advisers cited a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that cautioned certain TASER uses could constitute excessive force. The office said then that existing devices would be allowed to age out of service.
Since that change, deputies have operated without routine access to electronic control weapons. The new Axon contract marks the first large-scale reintroduction of TASERs to Wake County deputies in more than five years.
How TASERs Are Regulated in North Carolina
North Carolina law does not contain a statute specifically governing how law-enforcement officers deploy conducted-energy weapons. Instead, their use is guided by general use-of-force standards under N.C. General Statutes, which allows officers to use non-deadly force when they reasonably believe it necessary to make an arrest, prevent escape, or defend against physical force.
Possession of stun guns by civilians is generally legal in North Carolina, though carrying a concealed stun gun without proper authorization is prohibited. It is also illegal to possess one on school property.
Each law-enforcement agency in the state sets its own training and deployment policies.
Axon’s Role and Broader Context
Axon Enterprise, formerly known as TASER International, supplies body-worn cameras, cloud storage, and less-lethal weapons to thousands of law-enforcement agencies across the country. Several North Carolina departments, including those in Wilmington, Elizabeth City, Forsyth County, Lincoln County, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg, use Axon products under separate contracts.
The company’s products have also been the subject of civil lawsuits and scrutiny nationwide, including wrongful-death claims and antitrust actions. Courts have ruled both for and against Axon in various cases. The company maintains that its TASER devices are safe when used as instructed and remain a key tool in reducing deadly-force incidents.
Wake County Perspective
The county’s Board of Commissioners agenda summary for the Axon contract cites a goal from Wake County’s “Safer Community Together” Strategic Plan, which aims to reduce violent-crime rates by 5 percent by 2029. Officials say providing deputies with modern tools, comprehensive training, and transparent accountability systems supports that objective. The Sheriff’s Office is expected to develop internal policies outlining when and how deputies may deploy the devices once the program is implemented.
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Interesting to see Wake County bringing TASERs back after the 2019 policy shift. The bundled contract model Axon uses is pretty clever from a busines standpoint, you're not just buying the devices but getting locked into their whole ecosystem with the evidence managment software and VR training. That Evidence software subscription is probably where they make their real money long term. The fact that this was a sole source procurement shows how much Axon has cornered this market. Five years ago when they phased out TASERs over excessive force concerns, I wonder if anyone predicted they'd be back with an even bigger contract and more integrated tech. The $1.4 milion is significant but probably worth it if it genuinely helps de-escalate situations.