Story posted Thursday, June 4, 2009
Police Officers To Taser Up By Fall
Arlington Hts. is joining a growing list of communities that have decided to use Taser devices to protect police personnel and expedite arrests of offenders.
At least 71 members of the police department have elected to carry Taser guns. As part of their training, they will be "strongly encouraged" to experience being Tasered themselves.
For several months, village officials have talked about using Tasers, but cost considerations put off a final decision. Then, the village started studying the cost of duty-related injuries and lost workdays that happen when officers have to physically confront dangerous or violent offenders and suspects when making arrests.
A village police spokesman said this week that between 2003 and 2008, an officer was hurt in 63 incidents when trying to arrest someone. A Taser could have prevented injuries in at least a third of those cases, he added.
So the village board recently approved the purchase of Taser guns at $816 each. Equipping the 71 officers who volunteered to use them will cost about $58,000. The village's drug seizure account will provide the funds.
All members of the department were asked if they wanted to carry Tasers. Of the 100 surveyed, 71 said they would like one and 39 declined, the spokesman said.
Tasers use electricity to temporarily immobilize a person by over-stimulating the nervous system, causing an uncontrollable contraction of muscle tissue. The effects of a Taser charge last for an initial five seconds, and can be prolonged or repeated for additional five-second periods if necessary, according to Park Ridge Acting Police Chief Tom Swoboda.
After receiving a Taser, officers will spend a week training in how to use them. Tactical officers could anticipate having to use them possibly two or three times a week, the spokesman said.
Oher area towns that use Tasers include, in addition to Park Ridge, are Mt. Prospect, Elk Grove Village, and Palatine.
"We have four Tasers and have used them for at least five years," said Swoboda. "We find them useful. Sometimes an officer's warning to use one if necessary is sufficient to control a suspect. In another incident a couple of years ago, the use of a Taser protected an officer and a suspect, because otherwise the officer would have had to use his firearm to subdue a suspect who wielded a knife and refused to obey orders to drop it."
Both the Arlington Hts. spokesman and Swoboda said experiencing a Taser is a fundamental and important part of training.
The 71 officers in Arlington Hts. are expected to have Tasers by this fall.
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