Police in Charleston, W.Va. have received permission from their city council to purchase a robot that will be able to open doors and assess dangerous situations. The robot will cost more than $35,000 and is being funded by a grant from the federal government.
In explaining why his department wants the robot, Charleston Police Chief Brent Webster cited a 2013 incident in which a local attorney repeatedly fired a gun inside his house for several hours. After the attorney accidentally injured himself, the situation was resolved peacefully — sans robot.
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