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Proactive Legislation for Security
Steve Tuttle,
Vice President of Communications for TASER International, Inc.
TASER� technology has rapidly become one of the fastest growing non-lethal devices used by law enforcement and the military in North America to safely incapacitate dangerous, combative or high-risk subjects who pose a risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens or themselves.
With more than 6,000 law enforcement agencies deploying TASER technology and more than 1,300 agencies using it as standard issue equipment, what is it and how can it affect the private security market?
TASER systems are handheld devices that deploy two probes up to 25 feet away that are attached by fine wire that stick to a suspect�s clothing or skin. Once the electrodes make contact with the body, the electricity flows between the two electrodes creating a circuit of energy that causes the human muscles to contract and release each time the TASER system pulses (generally 10-19 pulses per second depending on the model). These contractions safely overwhelm the human body and prevent coordinating action by the subject.
TASER devices use high voltage in order for the electrical arcs to jump through clothing and skin and low power to incapacitate the subject. Voltage is a measurement of how far a spark can jump (to ionize the air gap). In terms of safety, these devices utilize very little power in terms amperage and joules. One such comparison is that of a heart defibrillator which generally use about 360 joules per pulse compared to 0.36 to 1.76 joules per pulse for TASER devices.
Next, let�s review the company and the recent developments. TASER International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TASR) is a market leader and manufacturer of advanced non-lethal devices that save lives everyday and dramatically reduce injury rates for law enforcement officers and suspects.
It was founded in 1993 to develop a non-firearm version of the original TASER system. TASER devices have been around since the 1970s but these systems prior to 1999 could not effectively and consistently incapacitate individuals on narcotics like PCP and cocaine, suspects that were goaldriven or even people who could fight through pain. All other non-lethal devices have this same challenge.
In 1999, this challenge was successfully met by TASER International and has since created a sea change in law enforcement with its ADVANCED TASER M26. The ADVANCED TASER M26 utilizes Electro Muscular Disruption technology to safely incapacitate even the most difficult of suspects under the influence of cocaine or those who resistant pain compliance tools like OC sprays, batons and strikes. EMD technology safely overwhelms the central nervous systems of individuals regardless of narcotics, focus or pain tolerance.
�This weapon, the first in a new class of electro-muscular disruption weapons, is different from any other less-lethal weapon in one key respect: this system is the only less-lethal weapon I�ve tested that will stop a focused, goal-oriented attacker. And it�s the only one that has stopped me,� said Sgt. Darren Laur, Victoria, B.C. Police Department.
The ADVANCED TASER M26 is very successful in terms of stopping dangerous suspects especially compared to other traditional non-lethal techniques. The M26 reduced officer injuries by more than 80 percent in the Orange County, Fl. Sheriff�s Office, and reduced suspect injuries by more than 67 percent in the Phoenix, Ariz. Police Department.
Make no mistake, the EMD is no magic bullet and is not a substitute for lethal force. The ADVANCED TASER can deploy up to 25 feet away and both probes need to make contact with the subject. However, its field success rate of 94 percent was not ignored by law enforcement or the military. With so many new users deploying the ADVANCED TASER at the patrol level and at a level equal to OC spray, the next challenge was to decrease the size to fit the limited real estate areas of duty belts.
The next TASER generation technology was developed in May 2002 and shrunk the ADVANCED TASER by 60 percent in size and weight. The TASER X26 now easily fits on the belts of law enforcement and is actually five percent stronger in its bio-effects. It has many improvements with updated technology features. However, the size is important as now the street officer can easily deploy this system on the belt without having to go back to a trunk or wait for a supervisor.
�The TASER X26 is the only instrument to revolutionize an aspect of policing in the past 35 year. The last piece of equipment to have a similar effect on police operations was the personally assigned portable radio system which occurred in the late 1960s to early 1970s. It is anticipated that using the TASER X26 will alleviate the need for traditional methods of use of force and result in a significant reduction of injuries to the citizens and police officers of Cincinnati,� said Colonel Thomas H. Streicher, Jr., Police Chief of Cincinnati.
Risk managers across the nation have not ignored the impact that TASER technology has made in the law enforcement community. Officer involved shootings in the Phoenix Police Department dropped 54 percent in the year that it deployed 1,500 TASER systems. Moreover, Cincinnati Police Department�s deployment of 1,100 TASER devices dropped suspect injuries 40 percent; citizen complaints dropped 50 percent; overall use of force dropped 40 percent; and officer injuries dropped by 70 percent.
Risk managers tracks these stats (which are similar to many other agencies� success) with great interest. Not only does the injury reduction save money, but so does the drop in workers� compensation claims. The result of reducing overall injuries and saving lives every day is a win-win combination for law enforcement, the community and risk managers. For example, a law enforcement insurance carrier in Michigan and a municipal association in South Carolina set up reimbursement funding for agencies deploying TASER purchases.
Moreover, both the M26 and X26 use a dataport download systems that electronically date stamps each deployment that supervisors can download to a secure file to monitor TASER system usage and to corroborate an officer�s incident report. The X26 also records the duration of each use. This protects both the officer and the agency from unfounded claims and adds a unique checks and balance system to the TASER technology. (In the near future, audio and video recordings will be available when the TASER system is deployed to further document the usage.)
Given the market prevalence for TASER technology, the latest emerging market is the private security industry which is even larger in size than the law enforcement market. Already NASA and Boeing have employed the TASER systems as part of their security. Other private security firms are developing interest in using our proven technology to reduce liability exposure, workers� compensation and injuries. With that interest, regulation and standards may be of particular concern for various states that are proactive in regulating their security regulations.
For example, law enforcement users generally undergo a minimum of a four-hour training course and many of these agencies use Police Officer Standards and Training certification approval. There are also the issues of recertification, training guidelines, testing parameters, use of force and safe storage.
Unfortunately, the TASER technology is often misunderstood and requires tremendous public education. The watts, amps and joules of TASER systems are not easily put into sound bites and many in the general public aren�t electrical engineers. Thus, the security industry should follow suit to insure that the proper training for TASER systems is completed, that the proper safe operation of the TASER technology is understood and that minimum standards are set.
Texas is the first state to show interest in regulating the lifesaving TASER technology for its private security industry with thoughtful regulation. This is a wise move by ASSIST as they have been supportive and proactive in setting regulations for TASER technology. TASER International strongly supports this proactive movement and is willing to engage with private security and legislators on this important matter.
For more information, please visit our www.TASER.com or contact TASER International at 800-978-2737.
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