Posted by Hilary Gibeaut
Wow, what an exciting four days Morgantown, WV! …and it is not often that one can say that!
Hundreds of corrections and law enforcement officers took part in the 2009 Mock Prison Riots, honing skills, learning new techniques and demonstrating and evaluating new equipment. For example, twenty officers were certified by the TASER training team on the new TASER® Shockwave™ area denial system and 61 officers were certified on the new TASER® XREP™ wireless shotgun projectiles.
A K-9 unit stands ready to break up a hostage situation
Over the course of the four-day event, I observed five training scenarios. Two of the training scenarios were staged in the cell blocks, with one scenario simulating 15 inmates refusing lockdown and the other simulating a situation where a guard was taken hostage by a group of inmates. During the hostage scenario, the rescue team brought in a K-9 unit, and it was so compelling to see how the dog scared the inmates into submission. I have a much better understanding and greater respect for the effectiveness and power of a well-trained K-9.
I also watched a scenario where a bus with inmates onboard broke down. The CERT (Corrections Emergency Response Team) threw smoke screens and flash bangs to distract the inmates so they could get on the bus and regain control. Yet another scenario was in the dining hall, where inmates started fighting and barricaded the doors to the hall. There were three teams of CERT officers who entered the dining hall and used both chemical and non-lethal devices to contain the situation. Read more…
Posted by Hilary Gibeaut
Today I am in Moundsville, West Virginia, at the Mock Prison Riots, an event that allows emergency response teams to test new technologies available to them before they incorporate them into their response plans. By being able to test these new technologies, such as the ones offered by TASER International, emergency response team members get the opportunity to not only evaluate the products, but also to give valuable feedback to the companies who design the tools they need to safely and effectively do their jobs every day.
Arriving at the West Virginia Penitentiary, site of the Mock Prison Riots
Throughout the four day event, men and women who keep our nation safe are able to deploy emerging technologies during best practice tactical training scenarios. Some of these scenarios include: cell extractions, riot control, hostage rescue, conflict resolution, and both lethal and non-lethal situations.
On Sunday, I joined more than a half dozen other TASER representatives for a day filled with setting up our trade show booth, painting targets and preparing for the upcoming scenarios. I was even able to attend a portion of the skills competition. Read more…
Posted by Hilary Gibeaut
With all the attention lately focused on TASER 3.0 (AXON and EVIDENCE.com), it’s been easy to overlook the one new TASER product that is actually ready for deployment. It’s called the TASER® Shockwave™ and it’s the latest application of TASER solutions in NeuroMuscular Incapacitation technology.
The TASER Shockwave
The Shockwave is the first generation of TASER Remote Area Denial™ (TRAD) technology. At the push of a button, the Shockwave deploys multiple TASER cartridges across an area arc. The idea is to be able to control multiple targets from one source.
Initially, we see this product as being ideal for law enforcement crowd control, military checkpoints and correctional institutions. We hope to equip these segments with a new tool to deal with response to resistance situations.
The actual unit is not very big (about 3 feet high when fully stacked) and is not very heavy, making the Shockwave easy to transport. Each cartridge is deployed in a 20 degree arc with a distance of 25 feet. It’s capable of being operated at a distance of up to 330 feet from the device via a Control Box. The NMI lasts for the standard five-seconds and can be reinitiated using the Re-Energize Button if need be.
While it may not be getting as much attention as some of the other TASER products that are coming to market later this year, the Shockwave is an effective new use of TASER technology that is ready for action.
Posted by Hilary Gibeaut
There’s been a lot of buzz out there lately about some of the new technology that TASER International is introducing this year. Our CEO and founder, Rick Smith, recently introduced the world to the TASER® AXON™ and EVIDENCE.com™ in a series of webcasts (found here).
But that’s not all we’ve got going on. In addition to AXON and EVIDENCE.com, we’ve been hard at work finding new ways to employ the NueroMuscular Incapacitation technology that TASER is best associated with. We’ve been in the process of preparing products like the TASER® Shockwave™ and TASER® XREP™ for market. Even though these products won’t be available until the third or fourth quarter of this year, the buzz is building. Here are few of the highlights:
Don’t Tape Me, Bro! — Aaron Rowe from Wired.com covered AXON and EVIDENCE.com on the day of the announcement.
TASER enters the data (business) – Lindsey J. Bertomen from PoliceOne gives his perspective on AXON and EVIDENCE.com.
Engadget imagines the effect AXON could have on the television show COPS.
Scott over at Spartan Cops put together a fantastic breakdown of AXON and EVIDENCE.com.
Mark Wilson from Gizmodo and commenters muse about the possibility of an AXON for consumers.
The New Scientist (a U.K.-based technology publication) caught wind of the XREP and wrote this post.