Taser® Use Recommendations

for

Law Enforcement Officers

As Presented at the 2005 IACP Annual Conference by:

Fabrice Czarnecki, M.D., M.A., M.P.H.

Benefits of TASER's

If properly used:

• May reduce use of deadly force

• May reduce injuries to suspects

• May reduce injuries to officers by suspects

• May reduce litigation by injured suspects

Recommendations

• Only use TASER for physically assaultive subjects

• Limit number of TASER exposures when possible (3 is probably a reasonable number)

• Identify high-risk subjects: age extremes, pregnancy, excited delirium
  If possible avoid using TASER on pregnant women, elderly and very young

• Weigh the alternatives to the TASER (deadly force, baton…) and use TASER when preferable to alternatives

• Allow appropriate exceptions to limits on TASER use: It is better to be "tasered" than shot!

• Train all officers in excited delirium recognition and management

• Call EMS if high-risk subject

• Call EMS if more than 3 TASER exposures

• TASER's should not replace training and other weapons (defensive tactics, baton, firearm…)

• When properly used, TASER is generally non-deadly force, but should be considered higher on the physical force scale than OC

• Safest to avoid exposure during training, whether students volunteer to be exposed or not