As police forces across the country re-evaluate their use of force policies, Mahoning supervisors discussed this week if township officers need to be debriefed on theirs.

Supervisor Robert Slaw raised a question at the board’s Wednesday meeting in reference to the injury of Mahoning officer Tyler Meek during a late June incident.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by another Mahoning officer, James Danner, Meek and Danner responded to a report of an intoxicated man, who allegedly resisted when officers attempted to arrest him.

Meek hurt his shoulder in the process.

“Why wasn’t this guy tasered and put down?” Slaw asked. The supervisor said injuries sustained by township officers in the line of duty are too commonplace.

“Every single year we have somebody out,” Slaw said. “I’m wondering if there’s something that should be done.”

“For how small the force is, every year - it’s not right,” he said.

The discussion was sparked shortly after supervisors approved Meek’s Heart and Lung request. (Heart and Lung is a state mandate that allows police officers to receive full pay, tax free, while recovering from work-related injuries.)

“I don’t know what the problem is,” said board President Bruce Steigerwalt.

Slaw said additional training or a discussion with Chief Audie Mertz might be necessary. The board’s police committee agreed to look into it.

Mertz was not present at Wednesday’s meeting.

Mahoning supervisors also approved the hiring of another part-time police officer this week, as long as he passes drug screening. The township is looking to hire three more part-timers.

Also on Wednesday, Mahoning supervisors:

Approved an extension request from the collective bargaining unit for the filling of a detective position.

Green-lit the township office to sign a planning module for the Wendy’s slated to be built on Blakeslee Boulevard. The next step is sending the module to the state Department of Environmental Protection.