TASER® Blog

Yesterday, Alan Frio of WSMV-TV Nashville reported on a man who was hit with a TASER device three times only to get up after each TASER deployment. In the report “Suspect Shocked Repeatedly With Tasers,” Frio questions whether the TASER device “is as effective as some believe and if a Taser keeps an officer safe.” Other media outlets rebroadcasted Frio’s report today with some like ABC News proclaiming, “TASER Doesn’t Work on Big Suspect.”

After several of us at TASER International watched the video — which incidentally is recorded on a TASER® CAM™ — it is very clear that the TASER devices worked exactly as designed. This is most evident in the fact that the suspect stiffened and fell to the ground, clearly the signs of Neuro Muscular Incapacitation.

What also is apparent is that there may be a misunderstanding of how TASER systems works and what it is designed to do.

The TASER device deploys two probes attached by a conductive wire at that suspect. The probes must make contact with the subject or with his clothing to be effective. When the two probes make contact, they then cause a subject to be incapacitated for a five-second cycle. During this five-second cycle, there is a “window of opportunity” during which officers can apprehend, handcuff and/or control the subject. This can be done during the five-second TASER application because the electrical pulses of the TASER device will not transfer to the officers unless they touch the probes or between the probes. More importantly, it’s the only time that the suspect is actually incapacitated.

After the five-second cycle, the subject can and will recover instantly. It’s akin to a light switch being on or off. It’s a matter of physics as electricity will not linger in the body. Individuals of any size are not disabled by the effects of the TASER device after the device is shut off. There is no “stunning” effect or disabling after effect.

The TASER X26 or any TASER brand device does not gain compliance from a combative suspect. Compliance is gained either by securely cuffing and controlling a suspect during the five-second cycle or if the suspect decides to give up. We have always stated that suspects can recover instantly. This is a critical part of the basic TASER training.

In other words, the TASER did what it was supposed to do.

No law enforcement tool, including the TASER device is effective 100 percent of the time. There are no magic bullets. But in the case in Nashville, the TASER X26 did exactly what it’s supposed to do — it dropped the suspect and provided a window of opportunity for officers to gain compliance