Policy Text
Departmental Memorandum
Volume 25-7
To: All Uniformed Personnel Katherine Lester, Chief of Police
From : Ofc. Tyson Butler, Training, Research & Development Division
Testing and Evaluation – Taser 10 CED
09/16/2025
The purpose of this departmental memorandum is to notify Sacramento Police Department (SPD) personnel of
a testing and evaluation of two Taser 10 conducted energy devices (CEDs). While these less lethal devices
look very similar to the current CEDs in the field, they operate and function diffe rently. The authorized use of
the Taser 10 CED is only for officers involved in the testing and evaluation period. The Taser 10 CED shall
only be carried, handled, and deployed by officers specifically trained in its use.
Personnel carrying, handling, and deploying the Taser 10 CED shall adhere to the following General Orders :
• General Order 522.02 Medical Treatment
• General Order 580.02 Use of Force
• General Order 580.03 Use of Force Reporting, Investigations and Response
• General Order 580.10 Conducted Energy Device
Overview
The Taser 10 (T-10) is a less -lethal weapon system designed to temporarily incapacitate an individual by
means of Neuromuscular Incapacitation (NMI). NMI is achieved when at least two electrically charged probes
are deployed from the Taser and penetrate the skin of the subject. Each activation cycle for the T aser 10 lasts
approximately five (5) seconds per trigger press. Characteristics of the Taser 10 include:
• The T- 10 can discharge up to 10 individual probes without being re -loaded.
• The T- 10 has a maximum operational distance of 45 -feet.
• The T- 10 does not have the ability to be externally arced as a deterrent, however an auditory power -up
“phaser -like” tone combined with a strobing light has been implemented.
• The T- 10 does not have the ability to be used in a drive- stun or circuit completion mode.
Note : Each device is individually serialized and tracked to its assigned user. The number of probe deployments
and cycles are also tracked.
Application
This less lethal device is authorized for use in a variety of field situations including but not limited to:
• De-escalation via auditory tone (warning alert) and or/laser painting
• Use of conducted energy device as outlined in GO 580.10 and in accordance with GO 580.02, GO
580.03 and GO 522.02.
Considerations
The T- 10 is unique in that the probes are deployed individually versus in pairs as with previous models. This
means that a successful T- 10 deployment will require a minimum of two successful probe deployments which
require a minimum of two trigger presses. Responding officers and officers on scene need to be prepared to
hear a minimum of two faint “pops” that are considerably quieter than the current X26 and Taser 7. The
Departmental Memorandum
Volume 25-7
To: All Uniformed Personnel Katherine Lester , Chief of Police
From : Ofc. Tyson Butler, Training, Research & Development Division
possibility also exists that due to an ineffective probe strike, additional probe deployments may be necessary to
obtain the desired effect of NMI.
Due to the 45- foot maximum range of the T -10, consideration must be given to the officer’s ability to advance
toward the subject during the 5- second operational cycle. As with previous versions of the Taser (X26/Taser
7), officers should make every effort to handcuff the suspect while the T- 10 is still under power and avoid
additional cycles being conducted unnecessarily.
When utilizing the T- 10, officers shall not utilize a single Taser Device on more than one individual at a time.
This is because even though the device can fire 10 probes, the device is unable to differentiate between
individuals and will continue to deliver energy to any previously deploy ed probe. This creates the potential for a
previously subdued and compliant individual to be subject to additional energy cycles when another individual
is targeted with the same device.