Policy Text
I.
ELECTRONIC WEAPONS COURSE - 4 hours
EXPANDED COURSE OUTLINE
Introduction
a. Registration
b. Hold Harmless Wavier
c. Safety Guidelines
II.
History and Definitions
a. What it is and what does it do
i.
Taser history
ii. Use of force considerations
b. Electronic Weapons and Nomenclature
Shaped pulse vs. Blunt pulse
i.
ii.
Stun vs. EMD (Electro Muscular Disruption)
1. Central nervous system
2. Sensory nervous system
3. Motor nervous system
Exposures and Safety
III.
a.
IV.
Electronic Weapons and the Human Body
b. How device overrides the central nervous system
i.
Pain to incapacitation
c. Areas of the CNS affected
d. Medical Aspects
i. Medical effects on the subjects
e. Volunteer exposure
i.
Safety requirements
1. eye protection
2. proper matting
3. safety officers
ii. Weapon safety
1. proper holster
Legal Ethical Considerations
a.
Case law
i. Graham vs. Connor (1989)
ii. Mattos v. Agarano (2011)
b. Penal Code Section 835a
C.
Reasonable Force
i. Scott v. Harris (2007)
ii. Bryan v. MacPherson (2010)
d. Excessive Force
i. Meyers v. Baltimore County (2013)
e. Terminology used by court and in reports
f.
Legal aspects of Use of Force
V.
VI.
i. Application of force within the scope and parameters of established laws,
rules, regulations and department policy.
g. Moral aspects of Use of Force
i. LE standards in conflict with current society's expectation?
h. Terminology of the device
i. Arming the device
ii. Aiming and firing
iii. Reloading the device
iv. Use of the laser light
Force options considerations
a. Alternative/back-up plan
b. Department policy
c. Multiple applications
d. Multiple electronic weapons used on a subject
e. Use on handcuffed subject
f. Known pre-existing medical considerations
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
Age of subject
Pregnant female
Pacemaker
Obviously frail
Deployment and Documentation
a. Recommended distance from subject
b. Target areas for subject
C.
i. Probe placement issues
ii. Wet conditions
Communications
i. Verbal Warning
ii. With other officers
iii. With subjects
iv. With dispatch
d. Evaluate effect after each application
e. Application of additional or different force options
f. Safely take subject into custody (cuff under power)
g. Cover officer considerations in an arrest situation
h. Post-deployment Considerations
i. Medical assessment for subject or officers
Documentation
ii.
1. Specific forms required?
iii. Supervisor notification
iv. Probe/dart removal
v. Storage of expended darts and wires
i.
Transportation/medical clearance
j.
Evidence collection
VII.
Practical application and practice
a. Drawing
b. Aiming Exercises
c. Arming Exercise
d. Reload Exercise
e. Firing pre-test check
f.
Transition Drills
g. Malfunction (Cartridge Change)
h. Firing for Taser Static Target
VIII.
Scenarios
IX.
i. Concentration on splitting hemisphere
ii. Simulated deployment
a. #1 One target (one cardboard stand)
i. The officer will encounter one fleeing subject and make the decision whether
or not to deploy the Taser based on case law. Proper de-escalation
techniques, use of force options considerations, deployment of the Taser as
well as proper reloading and removal of the darts will be learned.
Practical Testing and Course Wrap up
a. Draw and fire at 8 feet into paper target
b. Reload
C.
Hit second target at 12 feet with laser site use
d. All prongs contacting target
e. Course Wrap Up