Taser comment

[oldmikegraham]

My department mandated taser carry for patrol work a few years ago. I'm not a fan of the mindset I have seen develop with it's use. Taking folks into custody is a contact sport, no amount of technology will change that.

As a weapon system it has it's place. I'm concerned it has become the default weapon in between verbal commands and deadly force.

[wannadiesel]

As an outside observer, it seems to me that the taser has prevented a lot of officer injuries and kept more than a few "non-compliant" individuals from getting shot. The officers I've talked to about tasers love having the option.

[Administrator]

I happen to agree with both of you on this, but I don't see a lot of Taser use with NCSHP. I still carry pepper spray and I agree that sometimes taking someone into custody is a contact sport. There are many times a taser being used when you could have just as easily put someone in an arm bar and effected the arrest. I think for a lot of people, it's the easy way out.

Having said that, I also think it's saved a lot more people from getting hurt both on the LEO side and on the suspect side. Even though the court of public opinion is generally negative when they see someone getting tased, they also don't realize that it could have been a lot more violent without it.

[oldmikegraham]

Originally Posted by wannadiesel

As an outside observer, it seems to me that the taser has prevented a lot of officer injuries and kept more than a few "non-compliant" individuals from getting shot. The officers I've talked to about tasers love having the option.

The taser has it's place as a weapon system. It is effective and has cut down on injuries for all involved when it works.

My complaint is the mindset and sense of false security it seems to breed as 100% effective.

As an option I like it, just have a backup plan and be prepared for the possibility it may not always be the best answer.

[wannadiesel]

I'll agree with that point. Nothing works 100% of the time, with a taser there will always be times that the probes don't make contact due to clothing or the officer missing the target. Always gotta have a "plan B."

As an aside, the department I am familiar with had to get new OC spray after they started carrying tasers. The brand they were using had alcohol in it which could be ignited by arcing from the tasers. Imagine the publicity on that one - "Cop sets man on fire, film at 11."

[Administrator]

Hence the reason we can carry one or the other but not both. We also have strict policies in place about not using a taser on someone who's been sprayed.

[wannadiesel]

Well, my in my opinion if somebody got set on fire by getting sprayed and then needing to be tased to get compliance then "Serves him right." I have no sympathy for somebody that ignorant/stupid/aggressive/cranked up.

But I know that's not the way the TV news folks and the lawyers see it.

[oldmikegraham]

That would be the "screaming alpha" fire practical!

[Administrator]

I do believe that would be a class A fire

[wannadiesel]

Lord knows you wouldn't want to hit him with the wrong extinguisher...