Officers train on Taser’s proper use
Another third of the Bella Vista Police Department went through annual training last week, including Taser recertification on Thursday.
Officer Luke Henson, who taught the Taser class, said it was a chance to refresh officers on safe and effective use of their electric weapons. Moreover, he said, officers are required to be certified annually to use them.
“The bad thing about it is we have a lot of stuff to cover and not very much time,” Henson said. “There’s like 220 slides we have to go through and three tests.”
The department, he said, uses two different Taser models, the XP26 and the more advanced XP2. Officers need to be familiar with both.
They work, he said, by firing a pair of probes that stick into the target’s flesh and administer electricity, which causes the individuals’ muscles to fire uncontrollably. The Taser will automatically apply electricity for five seconds, he said, and officers can hold the trigger down to keep it going longer.
“It’s a quick workout,” he said. “A five-second workout. You’ll feel it tomorrow.”
Placement of the probes, he said, is important, and ideally the probes should split the belt line — that is, place one on the upper thigh and one on the lower back. This, he said, will more fully incapacitate someone. Placing both on a leg, by comparison, would only lock up that leg.
It’s important, he said, to be very aware of where the Taser is pointed at all times and treat it like a loaded weapon, because that’s exactly what it is. When shooting, he said, in addition to placing the probes properly, it is important to avoid shots to the face, crotch or chest, he said, because that could hurt someone.
Any time the weapon is used, he said, officers have to document it and explain why in their report. Moreover, he said, the department’s Tasers are all equipped with cameras, ensuring there will be a record of what happened if an officer deploys one.
After going through the slides and filling out the tests, officers stood up for a demonstration. Officer Henson did two exposures, both with fresh recruits — officers Cole Byars and Chase Henry, who will be going to the police academy later this month. Officers were spotted on either side to ensure they didn’t fall or otherwise hurt themselves.
“That’s a singularly unique feeling,” Byars said. “There is no description.”
Henry summed up the sensation in a single word: “Incapacitating.”
“All I could do is scream,” Henry said. “I wasn’t even trying to, that’s just the noise that came out.”