Comments on: Taser International legal challenge

By: Kerrie Iacovissi

Kerrie Iacovissi — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:12:02 +0000

Great site Lots of helpful info here Im sending it to a few friends and also sharing in delicious And obviously thank you on your effort

By: Tony

Tony — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:09:39 +0000

Thanks Amy,
I cant really comment in depth on Taser training in the Police, I left before they were introduced for General Duties cops. But in general I feel that police training in all of their operational skills is inadequate. The average NSW cop receives only 2-3 days per year operational safety training. This includes firearms, defensive tactics, lectures, first aid, riot and scenario based training (and now tasers). I was an operational safety trainer (weapons instructor) as well as working general duties and I could see that police in the field when under pressure could not remember what they had been taught, they then resorted to “non-standard” responses. This puts the police at more risk of doing something which will put themselves or the offender in danger and, if something goes wrong, they will be crucified for using a technique which is not approved.(like activating a taser 28 times, which i’m sure would not be an approved technique.)

By: Amy

Amy — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:39:31 +0000

Hi Tony,
I had forgotten to respond to this – Thanks a lot for commenting, I’m finding your perspective on this stuff really interesting!

I’m about to do a big post on Taser’s again, but just in response to this – I agree that the training on this issue is terrible. I also hold Taser International to blame as their marketing really emphasises the safety of these devices.

I wonder how things would change if Police received the same training as they do for firearms, and also had to fill in the same paperwork after using a Taser?

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:54:28 +0000

I think Tasers can be a useful tool for Police and can fill the gap between OC spray (which has its own problems) and firearms. The biggest issue is that of training. I dont feel that Police are given adequate training in any of their appointments other than firearms(for obvious reasons).
They are trained in HOW to physically use the items but the When, Where and Why are only given, in my opinion, lip service. The example from yesterdays new in the US where a man who had been sniffing solvents was tasered and caught fire is a classic – obviously the Taser was the wrong option. The police officers best weapons are their voice and their brain. So many situations that end in someone being tasered or worse can be diffused by talking to the offender. The NSW police academy used to teach something called “Verbal Judo” which uses an escalating scale of verbal cues and responses to try and gain compliance without use of force. To my knowledge they no longer teach this and I think it was (as usual)cut because of cost.
I am enjoying your blog, hope my comments add something to the discussion.