NCJ Number
201842
Date Published
May 2002
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This document focuses on the Seattle (Washington) Police Department’s progress in implementing the Less Lethal Options Program, particularly the M26 Taser.
Abstract
Tasers have been in use for over 20 years by law enforcement agencies. The M26 Taser is laser-sited and uses cartridges attached to the end of the barrel that send 26 watts of electricity at over 50,000 volts over the copper wires with the effect of overriding a target’s motor and sensory systems. Without the cartridge, the M26 Taser can function as a contact stun device. The M26 Taser has not been found to be harmful to persons with pacemakers or having other unusual health conditions. It is intended to provide officers with a force option to help in overcoming a subject’s combative intent, physical resistance, and/or assaultive behavior; in disabling or subduing persons bent on harming themselves or others; or in providing self-defense. The department’s field experience with the device in the first year of implementation shows that Tasers were used in a wide variety of incidents, involving mentally ill/suicidal subjects and traffic-related incidents. Sixty-three taser subjects were impaired, often severely, by alcohol, drugs, or a mental illness or delusion. A quarter of the taser subjects were armed, most often with knives. Taser subjects were most often males between the ages of 21 and 40. About half were Caucasian and another 42 percent were African- American. Tasers were used in the dart projectile mode about 60 percent of the time; in the stun mode, 27 percent of the time; and both modes were used 12 percent of the time. Verified taser contact was obtained in 86 percent of the incidents. In 85 percent of all of the incidents and in 92 percent of the incidents where contact was verified, the taser was credited with controlling the subject or bringing the situation to a resolution. Both officers and subjects reported low rates of injury during taser incidents when compared with the other use of force situations. No injuries were directly attributable to the taser device. 7 tables, 4 footnotes