TASER® Blog

Over the past two weeks, we have seen the American Medical Association (AMA) adopt new, constructive polices regarding the use of TASER® devices with the release of an important abstract on excited delirium from the University of Miami, and the presentation of a groundbreaking medical study regarding risk in arrest procedures associated with suspect behavior, as well as police tools and tactics. Each, in their own way, help advance our understanding of the complexities and dangers of taking a suspect into custody, the tools police use in performing arrests and, more specifically, with regards to TASER devices and TASER use policy.

The American Medical Association at its annual meeting earlier this month adopted new public health policies, including a resolution on TASER electronic control devices (ECDs). All in all, the resolution and accompanying report is generally positive. The AMA report finds that TASER devices, when used appropriately, can save lives during interventions that would have otherwise involved the use of deadly force. On its website, the AMA quotes Board Member Joseph Annis, M.D. as saying, “While TASERs can help law enforcement officers, proper use must be ensured through specific guidelines, rigorous training and an accountability system. There should also be a standardized approach to the medical evaluation of subjects exposed to TASERs.” We couldn’t agree more, and we look forward to working with groups like the AMA in the future.

Earlier this week, the National Institute of Health (NIH) website PubMed.com listed a key abstract on research into excited delirium syndrome which is slated for publication in Forensic Science International. The abstract “Brain biomarkers for identifying excited delirium as a cause of sudden death” describes research headed by Dr. Deborah Mash of the Department of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami. Read more…

There is certainly a lot of attention being paid to the arrest in Travis County, Texas, involving the use of a TASER® device on a 72-year-old woman. It is dominating blogs, Twitter and websites all over the Internet — almost to the same level of ubiquity that the “naked wizard guy” video received after it went viral last month. Then, following yesterday’s release of the in-car video of the Travis County incident, it now has been covered by most traditional television, radio, and print media outlets across the country and throughout the world.  

One of the most balanced reports I have seen thus far on the incident was on the NBC Today Show yesterday — including the after report discussion between Erin Burnett and Matt Lauer sharing their personal views on the situation. 

While I can understand the sensational draw and the spirited debate over this incident, I am left wondering why only a select few TASER uses are covered this intensely by the media or on the Internet. It seems as if the TASER device only gets this kind of coverage when it is used in what is perceived to be a negative or controversial situation.  

There are thousands of videos where officers used a TASER device according to their agencies’ policies and it directly led to the saving of an individual’s life. But we rarely see these instances covered on a national scale.

Electronic control devices are saving lives, reducing injuries and saving precious taxpayer dollars in workman’s compensation and litigation savings in the communities across the United States that are patrolled by the nearly 14,000 law enforcement agencies that carry TASER devices.

I personally believe a life saved deserves the same, if not more, coverage than a 72-year-old who became belligerent in refusing to sign a ticket or a naked guy at a music festival. This is certainly true with the story today from Amherst, N.Y., about the 6 month-old baby who was saved by an officer using a TASER device.

Yesterday, the Mesa Police Association (MPA) on its website expressed its support for TASER International’s two new innovative technologies — TASER® AXON™, an on-officer tactical computer and video-audio recorder that captures incidents from the officer’s perspective, and EVIDENCE.COM™ a world-class, Web 3.0 cloud computing service providing secure storage and groundbreaking analytic capability for digital information and evidence while preserving a pristine evidentiary chain of custody.  

Together, AXON and EVIDENCE.COM will protect truth through an end-to-end integrated solution to capture, store securely, and analyze digital evidence and information in ways that enables tactical and strategic decision making by law enforcement, as well as for legal evidentiary use.  

On its web page, the MPA wrote: Read more…

We have with us today a very special guest blogger. Andrew Hinz, Director of Technical Programs for TASER International and liasion to the medical community, is here to walk us through a few of the most recent studies conducted involving TASER devices.

Today, TASER brand electronic control devices (ECDs) are used by more than 14,000 law enforcement agencies in more than 45 countries worldwide. During the past decade, more than 1.5 million people have been hit with a TASER brand ECD, including an estimated 760,000 people in actual arrest proceedings by law enforcement. While a completely accurate number is hard to come by, it further is estimated that more than 50,000 people have avoided injury or had their lives saved because a TASER brand ECD was available and used by law enforcement.  

Despite the broad acceptance and amazing success of the TASER ECDs in reducing injuries and violence, there are still a number of critics and skeptics who are willing to ignore the data, ignore the scientific studies and ignore anecdotal evidence while calling for a moratorium on the use of TASER devices by law enforcement. Most commonly, these naysayers inaccurately site a “lack of independent” scientific and medical studies into the safety of TASER technology and TASER ECDs. Read more…

We received the following e-mail yesterday from Matthew S. of Louisiana who had to use his TASER® C2™ personal safety device against a man who previously threatened him and came to his work to attack him. Thanks to the C2, Matthew is unharmed and the attacker was arrested for his actions. Here is his note:

June 2, 2009

Hello,

My name is Matthew and I purchased your C2 product last year for personal protection. On May 11, 2009 I was attacked at work by a large man (6′0, around 270 lbs). I had previously had this man arrested for swinging at me, and for threatening my life. I have two small children at home, and care deeply for my family. This man returned again to my business on May 11, 2009. I am assuming that he was returning to make good on his threat to end my life, as he had been warned numerous times by the police and myself to stay away. His previous arrest was obviously no deterrent to his return. When this man charged at me from a distance of around 25 feet, I pointed my C2 at him and repeatedly warned him to stop. When it was obvious that he would not, I deployed the TASER. He was struck by one probe in the lower stomach and the other in his right hand. This device immediately dropped this large man like a rock, and the threat was over. He did not get back up until police arrived to handcuff him again and take him back to jail.

I am thankful that I did not have to use lethal force against him, and extremely impressed with the device. I cannot put a price on my safety and that of my family. I know that in years gone by my options for defense were limited to devices that required closer contact without having to utilize deadly force. I am a law-abiding, taxpaying, all American man. Thank you sincerely for the development of this device. My young daughters are thankful that you helped their Dad come home safe.

Thanks again,

Matthew S.

Matthew, we want to thank you for sharing your story with all of us at TASER International. You may have said it best, “I cannot put a price on my safety and that of my family.”