According to Wikipedia, “suicide by cop is a suicide method in which a suicidal deliberately acts in a threatening way, with the goal of provoking a lethal response from a law enforcement officer, such as being shot to death.” Tragically, those officers that are placed in those situations not only face media and public scrutiny, internal investigations, self-doubt, but they have to live the rest of their lives with the fact that they were involved in an incident where a life was taken to no fault of their own.

The main mission that co-founders Rick and Tom Smith had when starting TASER International in 1993 was to find a safer response to resistance. This mission is accomplished each time we read of similar lives saved by the use of a TASER ECD. To shed a little light on “who” we are, our staff at “Team TASER” is highly motivated and driven by these stories. Although we aren’t walking the beat or putting on a badge to protect and serve, it still makes us feel like we are, albeit a small, but important contributing cog in the law enforcement world. It’s a story like this that helps feel like we’re doing our part to make the world a little bit safer and doing our part to protect life.

We are human at TASER International. We read the controversial stories and sometimes you can feel overwhelmed that so many of the life-saving events are simply not covered or reported in any large extent despite thousands of lives that have been positively affected by the use of a TASER ECD. However, we as a company continue to produce products that help deter incidents that end in any death or serious injury, which allows us to continue to fulfill our number one mission: Protect life.

Although our technology is not a replacement for deadly force, we do know our TASER technology has been invaluable in more than 800,000 field use in situations — including the prevention of suicide by cop. It’s a good reminder today to see the positive impacts this technology makes each day at nearly 14,500 law enforcement agencies  in more than 40 countries.

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”…

The inner workings of a TASER XREP shell

Yesterday, TASER announced the new handheld multi-shot electronic control device (ECD) called TASER X3™, which will be officially released at the annual TASER Conference on July 27 in Fountain Hills, Ariz. This is the first new handheld ECD since the introduction of the TASER X26 in 2003.

We will be providing 27 features/technological advancements of the TASER X3 over the next 27 days. To follow the X3’s daily technology releases, go to:  www.TASERX3.com or follow on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/TASERX3 and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TASERX3.

Tuesday, TASER International announced that the TASER® eXtended Range Electronic Projectile (XREP™) shotgun rounds and TASER® X12™ less-lethal shotgun by Mossberg® are now available.

The TASER X12 less-lethal shotgun by Mossberg

The X3 is the culmination of over four years of intense research and development and offers exponentially increased capabilities, including vastly enhanced data, networking, and communication functionality as well as enhanced safety features. TASER has made major investments over the past 24 months to bring a host of new products to market — including the AXON™ Tactical Computer, EVIDENCE.COM™, and the long awaited wireless TASER® XREP™. Our R&D Team has secretly worked on a parallel path to bring the X3 to reality. These innovative developments create an ecosystem of technologies that interface together to provide law enforcement never-before-possible, breakthrough capabilities.

The TASER® product family will provide our customers smarter, safer capabilities to better protect our officers and our communities.

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.  

This is my second year in a row attending Mock Riots with TASER. I must say that Mock Riots is one of my favorite events to attend; the people that attend this event are so friendly and dedicated to their profession. These men and women have no fear of learning new skills, trying new equipment or even taking a voluntary exposure of a TASER electronic control device (ECD) — amazingly more than 200 people volunteered to feel the effects of our ECD technology.

CERT officers board a broken down bus full of inmates

All in all, in my opinion, this year’s Mock Prison Riots was again a huge success. It attracted numerous agencies from around the world, including Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, Egypt, the Bahamas and Canada. The impressive list of attendees also included training chiefs, tactical operators, and other industry experts.  

Four days goes quickly when you are at the Mock Prison Riots. It is a bit of a let-down now that the event is over; but the team from TASER International, including me, is already looking forward to coming back next year!