Page 11 - January 2017

exposed to feel its effects and learn
what the TASER can and cannot
do. All volunteers are vetted
through a medical questionnaire
and are cleared by a supervisor
and a member of the Academy
Medical Staff. No one is forced
to feel the effects of the TASER
and only healthy, physically
sound volunteers are exposed.
These voluntary exposures are
scripted as instructors follow a
strict set of rules and parameters,
ensuring that each exposure is
safe and properly documented. Those who volunteer have been a number of successful deployments by our
have expressed a new found respect for the TASER. members to date. The chart below details some of the
Over 100 volunteers have been exposed to date without statistics of TASER usage by Department members
injury or complications. since the initial deployment of the TASERs between
February and October 24, 2016:
Following classroom instruction, students are given
two written examinations specific to TASER as well In this period of approximately 8 months, 59 incidents
as a State Police Use of Force and policy examination. of UOF involving the TASER were reported while only
Students are also evaluated on several practical skills 26 incidents report a subject being exposed to the effects
assessments before being certified as end users. The of the TASER. This is attributed to the exceptional
course concludes with two dynamic scenarios in which judgment and decision making abilities of our troops
an instructor is wearing a protective suit designed to out there working each and every day. Well done!!
withstand a probe deployment with live simulation Moving forward with the TASER program, each end user
cartridges. The students insert these live simulation will be required to recertify annually with the TASER
cartridges into their TASER and are compelled to in order to stay up to date with TASER International
make split second use of force judgments during these requirements, use of force updates, and to maintain
scenarios. These scenarios are very well received by compliance with State Police policy. Recertification is
the students and are extremely valuable to the training also an opportunity to present new scenarios to current
in this capstone event. end users, and to instill confidence, competence and
efficiency. The Department is currently working on a
By the end of October 2016, eight months after the
initial deployment of these new less lethal weapons, recertification plan which is set to begin in early 2017.
there are over 800 TASERs currently assigned to Although over 800 TASERs are currently on the belts
Department members to be carried in the course of their of certified Department members, the deployment
duties. In addition to verbal warnings, there are four of TASERs to the rest of the Department is far from
functions that this device is capable of in order to gain over. There are 400 new TASERs on order, and the
compliance from a subject: training will continue with the goal of equipping more

1. Light and Laser activation of our members with some of the safest and most
technologically advanced use of force equipment
2. Spark Display available.

3. Drive-Stun In closing, it is clear that our Department members
4. Probe Deployment are truly dedicated to their work, and in carrying on
the proud traditions of the Massachusetts State Police.
Each of the above four functions used in the course of Train hard, always be prepared and above all stay safe!
duty are documented as use of force incidents. There

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