Sheriff Scott receives one of the departments X3 devices from Tom Smith

Exciting news today out of Ft. Meyers, Florida. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office became the first agency to receive their order for the new multi-shot TASER® X3™, the latest in handheld electronic control device (ECD) technology.

TASER chairman and co-founder, Tom Smith, was on hand today at a press event in Ft. Meyers to personally deliver the first five X3 ECDs sold to Sheriff Mike Scott in front of a packed room of media and curious onlookers.

We’ve told you a lot about the X3 here, beginning with the teaser campaign, through the unveiling at the July TASER Conference, the designated Facebook persona page, and now the first sale. It’s always exciting to see hard work and innovation pay off.

The sale is a result of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office being able to test and evaluate the X3. They quickly considered it an important asset for use in their law enforcement and correctional settings.

We congratulate the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on being a leader in law enforcement technology. We look forward to more law enforcement agencies joining their ranks soon!

Read about today’s press event in the:

WINK News here

News-Press here

Naples News here

Phoenix Business Journal here

Tom and Rick Smith demonstrate the TASER X3 at last week's TASER Conference

On Monday, July 27, Rick and Tom Smith, the co-founders of TASER International, unveiled the multi-shot X3, our first new handheld TASER ECD since 2003, during their keynote address at the beginning of the 2009 annual TASER Conference. It was one of the many TASER solutions for law enforcement, corrections and military customers that were highlighted that day.

The keynote address and the launch of the X3 was covered by numerous Arizona print and television media outlets. Incredibly, the story filed by the local Associated Press reporter was picked up by more than one thousand papers around the world. In addition, writers from a couple of trade magazines attended the keynote as well, so we are looking forward to those articles in the upcoming editions. Since the launch, I’m thankful to say that the media request and TV interviews haven’t slow down. The TASER X3 has been featured and demonstrated on FOX Business Network’s “Money for Breakfast” with Alexis Glick, has been written about on WIRED Magazine’s Danger Room, and was  shown in a video post on the Engadget website. Then today, Tom Smith gave a live demonstration of the X3 to Bill Hemmer on FOX News America’s Newsroom, wrapping up an exciting week of interest and coverage.  

The 2009 Annual TASER Conference was more than just a keynote address and product launch. It also included a four-day Master Instructors School providing advanced training for more than 300 Master Instructors from the United States and 29 countries around the world. Some of the countries that were represented were: the United Kingdom, Germany, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. These Master Instructors went through rigorous TASER training, Master Instructor certification and standalone product certifications. They had to take tests daily in order to pass the Master Instructor course, but this year they had a huge incentive beyond their certification; everyone who passed the program received a TASER X3. Can you believe it — all the participating instructors passed! Master Instructors School is more than just training. Many of the instructors will tell you that they enjoyed the networking opportunities that were held throughout the week’s training where they had a chance to share training ideas, learn new concepts and become more than just colleagues. Despite having to do homework and study comprehensive lesson plans, the lessons learned from sharing information among some of the world’s top trainers was invaluable.

Finally, as an added bonus — and just as important — thanks to a benefit performance by county music star Mark Wills and the generosity of the instructors, we were able to raise during the week more than $4100 in donations to the TASER Foundation for Fallen Officers. All in all, it was a wonderful week. The Training Department, Master Instructor Board and Senior Master Instructors at TASER International once again provided a best-in-class week of training and everyone at TASER International went above and beyond to launch another product that will protect lives.

The TASER X3

These past few days have been very exciting around TASER International. On Monday, July 27, we unveiled the new multi-shot TASER® X3™ electronic control device and today we just released our Q2 2009 earnings. Tom Smith, the Chairman of the Board and Founder, is in New York City today doing interviews with several key media outlets.

Check out some of the coverage we have gotten in the past few days:

• Article from Andrew Johnson of the Arizona Republic

• Taser International releases the X3 from the examiner.com

I am continually amazed at the support and confidence TASER employees show in their willingness to take a hit; in this case for the purpose of producing a video that highlights one of the key features of the new X3 – multiple shots.  (All three women were volunteers – and no, this isn’t some part of the TASER new employee orientation!)

The TASER X3 video is making the rounds on the Internet including on Popular Science and PoliceOne’s BluTube.

An extended version of the video that contains interviews with the TASER employees can be found on YouTube.

Take a look for yourself; it is impressive.  One device; three subjects; and no reloading.

The official unveiling date is July 27 when we will publicly present the X3 at our annual TASER Conference in Fountain Hills, Ariz.

Since the announcement last week, we have been providing daily features and technological advancements of the TASER X3, which will continue until our unveiling on July 27. The TASER X3 has also taken on a persona on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/TASERX3) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/TASERX3) where the device is “sharing” more about its exciting new features. The X3 just may be the first law enforcement weapon to “launch itself” through interactive social media sites. The use of social media is a first for our company and we are giving away some pretty great swag such as TASER® hats, shirts, and tactical bags to those that follow its progress and announcements during July. The TASER X3 is definitely a more hip, media savvy ECD!

For those that need a re-cap of the X3 features revealed in just the first seven days, here they are:

• Rotational Pulse Drive:  Rotate NMI pulses across firing bays to engage multiple targets simultaneously.
• Warning ARC:  Display warning arcs and gain compliance — even while the X3 remains loaded.
• Dual Laser System:  Enhance accuracy with dual lasers indicating top and bottom probe trajectories.
• Environmentally hardened:  X3 survives harsh environments such as dust, water, salt, fog and freezing temperatures.
• Color Display:  Central Information Display provides enhanced icons and data.
• Pulse Calibration System:  Monitors, calibrates, records voltage, and charge for every NMI pulse delivered.
• Cam-Lock Safety:  Reengineered safety interlocking design engages positively to armed or safe position.
• Independent fire control system:  Independent fire control circuitry directs firing sequence preventing static discharge.

I hope you’re saying “Wow!” at this point. The TASER X3 has so many great new features… and there are still 19 days to go until the official unveiling.

By the way… last week I had the opportunity to personally try out the X3. It is one innovative, capable and hi-tech law enforcement tool that promises to revolutionize the future of ECDs. I’m really excited about the launch and the way TASER will once again change the way law enforcement does its job. So excited that I almost want to take another voluntary ECD exposure, just to try out the new rotational pulse drive!

I did say “almost”…