(A) General regulations.
(1) Offices who carry the taser for operational deployment must have satisfactorily completed the Department’s approved in-service training program.
(2) The device will only be used with power sources recommended by the manufacturer.
(3) The device shall be carried fully armed, with safety on in preparation for use in appropriate circumstances.
(4) Approved officers shall be issued a minimum of one spare cartridge and have it accessible in case of cartridge failure or the need for reapplication.
(5) The device shall be pointed in a safe direction with the safety on during loading, unloading, or other necessary handling outside an operational deployment.
(6) Each discharge, including accidental discharge, of the taser shall be investigated and documented on a use of force report by the Town Marshal or his or her designee.
(7) Prior to the use of the taser, if practical, broadcast “TASER” indicating the use of the taser is imminent to prevent unintentional shooting.
(8) If a threat continues, the officer will aim at center mass or at the legs of the threat using the top sights and or the laser sight. Never aim at the throat, head, or groin of the threat.
(9) In preparation of firing operationally, the device shall be pointed in a safe direction, taken off safe, then aimed and fired in a manner consistent with Department approved training.
(10) Upon firing the taser, pull the trigger and release, allowing the taser to cycle for the full five seconds. The taser will automatically shut off unless the trigger is pulled continuously or the safety lever is switched on. The officer shall engage the subject no longer than necessary to accomplish the legitimate operational objective.
(11) If a miss or failure occurs, the officer will immediately, if possible, remove the cartridge and reload the device with a new cartridge, re-evaluate the situation, and fire again, if necessary and appropriate.
(12) If additional applications of the device are required because the assaultive or violent threat is still present, the deploying officer will pull the trigger and allow the five second cycle to take its course.
(13) Upon gaining compliance, the following shall be completed:
(a) Secure the subject in handcuffs as quickly as possible, if appropriate;
(b) Remove the probes from the suspect in the field in the manner prescribed in training. The officer removing the probes shall wear latex gloves during the process. An antiseptic swab will be used on punctured areas of skin and a bandage applied;
(c) Inspect the probes upon removal to ensure that the entire probe and its barbs have been removed. If any part of the probe breaks off in the subject and remains embedded in the subject’s skin, medical personnel will be summoned to assess the subject and removal of the lodged object. Medical personnel will also be requested to remove any probe that is hard to remove or located in sensitive areas; such as head, neck, groin, face, and eyes. Photographs should be taken of these impact areas; and
(d) Officers should be alert for any injury that may or may not have been brought about by the police use of force, which left untreated could become a possible serious problem for both the injured suspect and the Department. Officers will have a physician at KDH examine all suspects who fall under either of the following categories:
1. The suspect has an obvious injury, which, in the opinion of the officer in charge, requires treatment; or
2. The suspect requests medical treatment for an injury, whether obvious or not.
(14) The town’s Police Department will not be responsible for any medical cost incurred.
(B) Taser - stun mode.
(1) The taser can function in stun mode after the probes have been fired as a backup weapon. To use the device in the drive stun mode, drive the weapon aggressively into nerve or motor points for best effectiveness.
(2) It is important to note that the device used in drive stun mode is:
(a) Primarily a pain compliance tool due to the lack of probe spread;
(b) Less effective than conventional cartridge type deployments;
(c) The focus of a disproportionate number of taser complaints, allegations, specifically focused on coercive and punitive use and handcuffed/grounded subjects; and
(d) More prone to leaving marks on the subject’s skin than cartridge deployment.
(C) Equipment.
(1) After deployment, the air cartridge and probes used shall be tagged into evidence. Since the probes may have blood on them (biohazard) the officer shall wear latex gloves when handling. The wires shall be wound around the cartridge. The probes shall be inverted into the portals which they were fired from, this will prevent sharp ends from penetrating the evidence envelope. Tape should be placed over the portals to secure the probes in the cartridge. Place into evidence envelope.
(2) Every time an air cartridge is fired, it disperses 20-30 identification tags called AFIDs (anti- felon identification). These tags are printed with the serial number of the cartridge and can be used to determine who fired the cartridge. At least three AFIDs will be placed inside the evidence envelope with the air cartridge. The number from the AFIDs shall be logged on the use offeree report.
(3) Designated personnel, one other than the one using the taser, will take control of the taser for downloading of information.
(4) The Town Marshal will retain all records and downloaded information.
(D) Wearing of the taser. The preferred method of carrying the taser would be for it to be attached to the officer’s duty belt. However, officers will be permitted to carry the taser in a tactical position in drop leg holster, located on the opposite side of the handgun holster, if the officer prefers.
(Res. 2008-7, passed 10-7-2008)