Our non-sworn Medical Center Security Department has employed TASER technology for almost 6 years now. We are our County's only Level 1 Trauma Center seeing every type of patient immagineable - to include those in violent mental crise. Prior to the TASER technology, we had 'knock-down, drag-out physical fights' leaving my Officers and the patient in various states of injury - just to safely control the patient. We researched TASER extensively prior to implementing them, to include how many cases of Worker's Comp lost days are on the books because of those violent physical encounters. We had employed the 'other' protective equipment; pepper spray/foam, Handler-12 control/restraint device with little success, ... even had collapsable ASPs waiting to be issued, but felt as more and more research bore out that TASER technology was the most effective, humane - non-lethal - method of controlling not just those in mental crises, but anyone bent on violently assaulting our Medical center staff and visitors. We re-familiarize every Security Officer at least twice a year, to include deploying X26 TASER cartridges into hard targets as well as going through a training facility in putting them in 'live train': shoot/don't shoot F.A.T.S. simulator with TASER modules to give each Officer as real of training scenarios they will encounter in our Medical Center as possible. Written proficiency evaluations are also given on technical operation, nomenclature, and 'what if' scenarios akin to our specfific site. All documented for proper use and adherance to our Department's TASER General Order.
We've been very successful in the almost 6 years we've put a TASER on each Officer on duty. Worker's Comp claims requiring days lost are nearly 100% non-existent. We've not had any injury (definitely NO deaths) to any of the 17 individuals who required control with a TASER, and the best news is that we've stopped 82 incidents where violence could have started if not for the TASER's mere presence or display. A phrase to sum up our particular TASER program: "it's a win-win situation". Violent offenders are safely controlled within seconds, and every one of my Officers goes home at night to their family. My closing thought: many misinformed people cry 'foul' in the very sad event of an in-custody death - demanding Police take TASERs off their belts, ... but they still allow the very same Officers to carry lethal force in a handgun. It doesn't make sense to me. Please keep an open mind, and look at each TASER event for 'correct use' per policy. If an Officer is proven to having demonstrated misconduct with a TASER, then they face the same legal consequences anyone does.
My apologies for the long-winded response.
-TASER User
-Southern California
Autopsy finds man Tasered at Erlanger died of natural causes
Our non-sworn Medical Center Security Department has employed TASER technology for almost 6 years now. We are our County's only Level 1 Trauma Center seeing every type of patient immagineable - to include those in violent mental crise. Prior to the TASER technology, we had 'knock-down, drag-out physical fights' leaving my Officers and the patient in various states of injury - just to safely control the patient. We researched TASER extensively prior to implementing them, to include how many cases of Worker's Comp lost days are on the books because of those violent physical encounters. We had employed the 'other' protective equipment; pepper spray/foam, Handler-12 control/restraint device with little success, ... even had collapsable ASPs waiting to be issued, but felt as more and more research bore out that TASER technology was the most effective, humane - non-lethal - method of controlling not just those in mental crises, but anyone bent on violently assaulting our Medical center staff and visitors. We re-familiarize every Security Officer at least twice a year, to include deploying X26 TASER cartridges into hard targets as well as going through a training facility in putting them in 'live train': shoot/don't shoot F.A.T.S. simulator with TASER modules to give each Officer as real of training scenarios they will encounter in our Medical Center as possible. Written proficiency evaluations are also given on technical operation, nomenclature, and 'what if' scenarios akin to our specfific site. All documented for proper use and adherance to our Department's TASER General Order.
We've been very successful in the almost 6 years we've put a TASER on each Officer on duty. Worker's Comp claims requiring days lost are nearly 100% non-existent. We've not had any injury (definitely NO deaths) to any of the 17 individuals who required control with a TASER, and the best news is that we've stopped 82 incidents where violence could have started if not for the TASER's mere presence or display. A phrase to sum up our particular TASER program: "it's a win-win situation". Violent offenders are safely controlled within seconds, and every one of my Officers goes home at night to their family. My closing thought: many misinformed people cry 'foul' in the very sad event of an in-custody death - demanding Police take TASERs off their belts, ... but they still allow the very same Officers to carry lethal force in a handgun. It doesn't make sense to me. Please keep an open mind, and look at each TASER event for 'correct use' per policy. If an Officer is proven to having demonstrated misconduct with a TASER, then they face the same legal consequences anyone does. My apologies for the long-winded response. -TASER User -Southern California