By TYLER SHERLOCK
Taser Instructor
Have you ever been in contact with an Alliance Police Officer and wondered about the yellow device holstered on their belt? If you did not know, the device is a Taser. We are often asked by members of the community what it is, how it works, and why we have them.
The X2 Taser is made by Axon and is a Controlled Electronic Weapon and delivers up to 50,000 volts in a discharge cycle lasting 5-seconds. Officers may deploy the Taser when dealing with a combative and / or resisting suspect. When deployed, the Taser affects the suspect’s muscles, achieving Neuromuscular Incapacitation. This allows officers to take swift action in apprehending a suspect.
The Taser is just one of many tools at the officer’s disposal in which they may deploy to keep others and themselves safe.
Most of the officers at the Alliance Police Department have received a voluntary exposure to a Taser even though it is not a requirement. By experiencing a voluntary exposure, officers can better understand the effects of the Taser and feel the Neuromuscular Incapacitation personally.