Every cop needs a Taser to zap the bad guys

In today’s world, new technology comes at us from every direction. For police officers on the street, technology is not only a tool to help them do their job better, but in some cases it is also a tool that can protect police while reducing the odds of their having to use lethal force.

The police carry various items on their belt every day, such as a gun, ammunition, radio, baton, flashlight, latex gloves, pepper spray, handcuffs and for some officers– a Taser gun.

I recently spent a morning with Sgt. W. Adams at the Baltimore City Firearms Facility. The firearms facility is where every Baltimore police recruit is taught how to use a pistol, a shotgun and a taser.

I think most of us are familiar with a pistol and a shotgun, but we are probably less familiar with a Taser gun. A Taser is easily held in one hand, and it can be used in two ways—from a distance or as a stun gun by touching the end of the gun to the skin of the suspect.

When the officer shoots a Taser from a distance, the trigger is pulled and two small pins connected to a floss-like string shoot in the direction the taser is aimed. The pins attach to the suspect’s clothes or skin.

Once the pins attach, the Taser shoots 50,000-volt electrical pulse to create a circuit with the suspect’s skin. Then, according to its maker, the Advanced Taser M26 police model sends an average of 1,500 volts through the suspect for up to five seconds. The 0.004-amp charge is enough to stun and incapacitate but not cause permanent damage. Officers I spoke with who have been Tased describe the experience as the longest seconds of their life.

If the first shock does not subdue the suspect, the officer can pull the trigger a second time.

Can you imagine trying to put handcuffs on an individual who is drunk, high, angry and cursing at you? In many instances, it would be difficult for a single officer or even a group of officers to handle such a situation. The Taser allows police to get the situation under control without using lethal force.

There have been reports in the media about Tasers causing the death of suspects. Taser International, the company that manufactures the weapon, has been sued numerous times. The company lost its first such case in June after winning 69 previous ones.

I am told by various officers that when a person dies after being Tased, it is usually due to alcohol, drugs or some sort of excited delirium, not the effect of the Taser itself.

The state of Maryland does not have any laws to prohibit the private use of Taser guns, but they are illegal to use in Baltimore City. You can buy a Taser gun online, or attend a Taser party and pick out a Taser in your favorite color. Women are the target demographic for these electronic protection devices.

City police have approximately 250 Taser guns, each costing about $900. But there are more than 1,700 officers on the street in Baltimore City.

The police department should provide every officer with a Taser gun to help keep officers safe and reduce the odds of their having to use lethal force. Baltimore City police officers must have the tools they need to protect the people of Baltimore and themselves.