Wednesday, November 27, 2002
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Wednesday, November 27, 2002 |
| F'ville adds
nonlethal weapon that's sure to shock bad guys
By JOHN MUNFORD
It looks like a handgun, feels like a handgun and almost shoots like a handgun. But the newest weapon available to Fayetteville police officers won't kill you. Instead of a bullet, the M-26 Advanced Taser delivers a five-second jolt of electricity that causes the suspect's muscles to contract, which in most cases leads to the suspect falling to the ground, according to Fayetteville Det. Steve Crawshaw. The taser can be used on combative suspects so police can safely take them into custody, Crawshaw said. It delivers 50,000 volts to the suspect, but after the five-second shock is over, the suspect "snaps back to normal," Crawshaw added. "It stops your brain and muscles from communicating, but it's not enough to do any damage," Crawshaw said. When fired, the taser shoots two wires with leads that pierce the suspect's skin to deliver the jolt. After the first five-second burst ends, the officer can send a second burst if needed, Crawshaw explained. As long as officers don't touch the leads, they can arrest the suspect and avoid the shock even while a burst is being administered, Crawshaw said. The weapon also has a laser sight to help provide accurate shots. Three officers have been using the taser since March and the weapon has already been used twice. On one occasion, it was used to subdue an armed suspect who was threatening to take his own life, Crawshaw said. As two officers provided cover with their handguns, a third was able to train his taser on the suspect and get close enough to use it, Crawshaw said. After one blast from the taser, the suspect dropped the shotgun. When he continued to be combative with officers, a second blast was administered to allow officers to handcuff him, Crawshaw said. A taser was also used to subdue an uncooperative suspect who was walking down the street in his underwear, Crawshaw said. Although he partially "blocked' the shot, "they were able to get him under control," Crawshaw added. "From what we have seen so far ... it's very effective," Crawshaw said. Six more officers trained on the weapon Thursday during four-hour classes. Officers had to "qualify" by properly shooting a target within four shots. Each officer was also initiated with a blast from the taser. The only side effect is a minor itch from where the probes pierce the skin, and that wears off between two days and a week, Crawshaw said. When the probes pierce the skin on the initial shot, "you can't feel it," Crawshaw said. After the probes are removed, there is little to no bleeding at all, he added. Fayetteville officers already carry retractable asp batons and pepper spray. Although those options have longer-lasting side effects and can cause injuries, they still have their place in law enforcement, Crawshaw said. But just like pepper spray can't be used in a crowded area, the taser has its limits, Crawshaw said. It has a shooting range of 21 feet. "It's just an option," he said. "There will be some instances where it will not be effective." Each taser has a computer chip that records the date and time of each shot for records purposes. Special confetti released with each shot allows police to determine which officer fired the taser and where the suspect was located at the time of the shot, Crawshaw said. The confetti has a serial number to indicate which cartridge it came from, enabling police to link the shot back to the officer who fired it, Crawshaw said. "It's a way to track and make sure the system is not being abused," he said. Each taser unit costs $500, including the battery, charger and software to download the shooting data from the weapon. The department will soon have a total of nine tasers on the streets with the potential to buy more if necessary, Crawshaw said.
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