Lives Saved by TASER: First Use in the Netherlands
Posted by Peter Holran
In March of this year I had the pleasure of being present when Dutch National Police announced a one-year pilot program that would place TASER® devices with eight special tactical law enforcement and arrest teams throughout the Netherlands. After thorough training from 34 newly anointed Dutch TASER® Instructors, the program commenced last month. Naturally, with this being the first deployment of TASER devices in the Netherlands, there was a lot of curiosity surrounding TASER® technology.
Yesterday, that curiosity was satisfied as the pilot program’s first field use provided an example of how TASER devices can help save lives. A man in the town of Woerden had his life saved when the use of a TASER prevented him from inflicting serious injury upon himself. Officers were able to temporarily incapacitate the man’s muscles using a TASER® X26™ — thereby disarming him and diffusing the dangerous situation.
We’re pleased that the Dutch National Police have adopted the life-saving technology of TASER and we congratulate them on a job well done in helping advance the mission of TASER International — to protect life.