Taser Flashcards
Taser Justification
Discharge a taser to:
- Protect human life,
- Protect yourself or others where violent confrontation or violent resistance is occurring or imminent,
- Protect an officer/s in danger of being overpowered or to protect themselves or another person from the risk of actual bodily harm, or
- Protect from animals.
Considerations (before drawing…)
Before drawing and during use of taser you should continually assess the situation, whilst always having a backup plan.
Parts of the Taser
- Rear sight
- Front sight
- Speaker port
- Trigger
- Cartridge release button
- Arc switch
- Rechargeable battery pack
- Central info display (CID)
Optimal spread, max and min range
- 30 cm or spread for every 3.3 meters of travel
- Minimum range is 90cm
- Maximum range 11 metres
Preferred target zone
- The back is the most preferred target area when reasonably practical because it contains larger muscle groups and reduces the risk of hitting sensitive body areas.
- Split the belt line
- Do not target head, eyes, throat, chest or genitals!
Secondary target zone
- The front of the body is the secondary target zone.
- One probe above and one below the waistline
Criteria to draw and cover with CWE
- Do not draw or aim unless you consider you are likely to be justified to use it
- When drawing the taser, it must be immediate armed upon removal from the holster (turn it on as soon as you pull it out)
Taser use restrictions
- Around anything flammable
- Where there is a possibility of secondary injuries (falling from a ledge)
- On non-compliant subjects that are non-threatening
- Against a mental health patient solely to make them submit to medication or treatment
Exceptional circumstances
o Elderly or disables
o Handcuffed person
o Someone who may be pregnant
o Small people (body mass) including child
o Driver of vehicle / machinery
o Someone fleeing
o Pain compliance
Time for cycle and max cycles
- Taser discharge cycle lasts 5 seconds
- Max of 3 cycles, then consider other options / the effectiveness
Modes of use
- Painting
o Look at my pretty lights, my taser is on and ready to use - Warning arc
o Can you see/hear that, my taser is on and ready to use - Probes discharged (firing)
o Trigger is pulled, NMI (hopefully) achieved - Drive stun
o Direct contact of taser to someone and press arc switch (cattle prod)
o Only use in exceptional circumstances
Function test (why and steps)
- The function test is completed to verify the CEW’s core electronics and both cartridges are working properly
- Steps;
o Taser off
o Examine body of taser for damage
o Hold both arc switches until CID shows percentage
o Turn on taser, should be yellow background with black squares
o Press arc switch, examine arcs for proper function
o Turn taser off
o Holster