LEOs now equipped with Tasers
Thanks to money seized in drug arrests and generous donations from the community, law enforcement officers in Tyler County have added another useful tool to their belts.
Officers from the Sistersville Police Department have been carrying Tasers since the end of May and the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office will follow suit effective July 1.
All of the Tyler County officers have received the proper schooling to be certified to carry the electronic control devices. According to officials, other departments have seen a significant reduction injuries since implementation of Taser programs. “We should see a reduction in officer and suspect injuries through the use of the Tasers,” commented Sheriff Bob Kendle.
There have been over 120 independent studies of Taser devices and the body of evidence show that while these devices are not risk free, they are among the safest use-of-force alternatives available. While most people know a Taser is far safer to the recipient than a bullet from a firearm, many people do not realize that a Taser device exposure represents a significantly lower risk of injury than traditional hands-on force tactics.
The human nervous system communicates with simple electrical impulses. The command center processes information and makes decisions. The peripheral system includes sensory and motor nerves. The sensory nerves carry information from the body to the brain. The motor nerves carry commands from the brain to the muscles to control movement.
“Taser technology uses similar electrical impulses,” Sistersville Police Chief Dave Howell explained. “Neuromuscular incapacitation occurs when a device is able to cause involuntary stimulation of both sensory nerves and motor nerves.”
Tasers are not dependent on pain and are effective on subjects with a high tolerance to pain. Previous generations of stun guns could primarily affect the sensory nerves only, resulting in pain compliance.
Kendle further explained, “A subject with a very high pain tolerance might be able to fight through the pain of a traditional stun gun.”
Both departments have modified their existing use-of-force policies to include the use of eletroncic control devices, such as Tasers, giving the officers another option when dealing with violent, resistant subjects. Howell remarked, “It gives our officers another tool in their belt.”
The TCSO has procured six X26 model Tasers with money seized in drug related crimes. This model is equipped with audio and video features. The Sistersville Police Department will utilize the M26 model purchased through a donation to the City by Andy Weekley. Both departments have been cross-trained.
LEOs now equipped with Tasers
By JONAY CORLEY
Editor
Thanks to money seized in drug arrests and generous donations from the community, law enforcement officers in Tyler County have added another useful tool to their belts.
Officers from the Sistersville Police Department have been carrying Tasers since the end of May and the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office will follow suit effective July 1.
All of the Tyler County officers have received the proper schooling to be certified to carry the electronic control devices. According to officials, other departments have seen a significant reduction injuries since implementation of Taser programs. “We should see a reduction in officer and suspect injuries through the use of the Tasers,” commented Sheriff Bob Kendle.
There have been over 120 independent studies of Taser devices and the body of evidence show that while these devices are not risk free, they are among the safest use-of-force alternatives available. While most people know a Taser is far safer to the recipient than a bullet from a firearm, many people do not realize that a Taser device exposure represents a significantly lower risk of injury than traditional hands-on force tactics.
The human nervous system communicates with simple electrical impulses. The command center processes information and makes decisions. The peripheral system includes sensory and motor nerves. The sensory nerves carry information from the body to the brain. The motor nerves carry commands from the brain to the muscles to control movement.
“Taser technology uses similar electrical impulses,” Sistersville Police Chief Dave Howell explained. “Neuromuscular incapacitation occurs when a device is able to cause involuntary stimulation of both sensory nerves and motor nerves.”
Tasers are not dependent on pain and are effective on subjects with a high tolerance to pain. Previous generations of stun guns could primarily affect the sensory nerves only, resulting in pain compliance.
Kendle further explained, “A subject with a very high pain tolerance might be able to fight through the pain of a traditional stun gun.”
Both departments have modified their existing use-of-force policies to include the use of eletroncic control devices, such as Tasers, giving the officers another option when dealing with violent, resistant subjects. Howell remarked, “It gives our officers another tool in their belt.”
The TCSO has procured six X26 model Tasers with money seized in drug related crimes. This model is equipped with audio and video features. The Sistersville Police Department will utilize the M26 model purchased through a donation to the City by Andy Weekley. Both departments have been cross-trained.