A Green Bay martial arts instructor on Wednesday donated $7,500 to Green Bay police to help officers avoid hand-to-hand combat.

“It’s a late Christmas present for us,” Lt. Andy Lewis said of the donation, which will buy at least seven new Tasers. There are now 48 devices at the department.

 

Tasers deliver electronic charges to a suspect’s muscles to prevent resisting arrest, Lewis said. The use of Tasers also limits the need of officers to tussle with suspects, which can lead to injuries.

 

Officers deployed Tasers 56 times in the past 12 months, Lewis said.

 

Ed Manning, 47, said he decided to help the department when he found that there were not enough Tasers to arm all officers during Green Bay Packers home games or other large events requiring increased staffing.

 

“I was really amazed to find out there wasn’t a Taser for every single patrol officer. To have to be forced to choose between which officers are going to have to have it, that’s not a very easy choice to make.”

 

Manning said he raised the money within a week with the help of relatives.

 

“I got a wonderful Christmas bonus this year and I turned around and basically gave it right back to the city,” said Manning, who is employed at EDCO Food Products Inc. “The more we can support police, the better we’re going to be in the long run.”

 

The new Tasers should arrive at the beginning of 2012, Lewis said.