ii-44TaserEnergyWeapon

Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (06/23/2025 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER Subject: TASER ENERGY WEAPON Index as: Blue Team Function Test (TEW) Taser Energy Weapon De-escalation Less -lethal Weapon Proficiency Totality of Circumstances Force Guidelines Less -lethal Weapon Use of Force Force, Use of Medical Aid Use of Force Reporting Accreditation Standards: 4.1.1, 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.3.4, 4.3.5 and CFA 4.06, 10. 20 Cross Reference : G.O. II -20, Weapons Qualifications G.O. II -42, Use of Force §§ 943.1717 and 790.01(4)(b), F lorida Statutes Graham v. Conner, 490 U.S. 386 (1989) Replaces : G.O. II -44, Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) (February 05, 2024 ) Prior to being permitted to carry any weapon or assigned any duties which require the possession of a weapon, officers will be issued a copy of General Ord er II-42, Use of Force and instructed about state law and the policies of this agency regarding the use of force and the use of authorized weapons. This Order consists of the following sections: I. Policy II. Definitions III. The Taser Energy Weapon IV. Authorized Use V. Unauthorized Use VI. Care After the Use of a Taser Energy Weapon VII. Reporting and Investigating the Use of a Taser Energy Weapon I. POLICY A. Officers will comply with all applicable the provisions of G.O. II -20, Weapons Qualifications and G.O. II -42, Use of Force regarding the use of force and Taser Energy Weapon qualifications. B. The Taser Energy Weapon is a less -lethal weapon supplied by the Department in the interest of reducing the potential for injury to an officer, a person the officer may be taking into custody, and innocent bystanders. II. DEFINITIONS A. Active Resistance – A subject’s use of physically evasive movements directed toward the officer such as bracing, tensing, pushing, or pulling to prevent the officer from establishing control over the subject. DATE OF ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER April 2019 Immediately II-44 Distribution: All Employees General Order II -44 Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (06/23/2025 ) B. Taser Energy Weapon – A battery -operated energy device that propel s probes at a target. The p robes remain connected to the weapon by wire to administer electrical energy which disrupts the pers on’s voluntary motor response causing Neuromuscular Incapacitation (NMI). C. Force Guidelines – A framework for making decisions involvi ng reasonable use of force by officers. The structure of the Force Guidelines is based on constitutional considerations and case law and describes appropriate decision - making in a fluid and dynamic situation. The Force Guidelines consider the totality of c ircumstances to include the relationship between the subject’s form of resistance, all reasonably perceived factors that may have an effect on the situation, and the response options available to the officer. (See G.O. II -42 Use of Force .) D. Totality of Circumstances – The facts and circumstances known to the officer at the time or reasonably perceived by the officer as the basis for the use of force decision. III. THE TASER ENERGY WEAPON A. A Department -issued Taser Energy Weapon is an optional less -lethal weapon authorized for use by sworn personnel who have been tr ained and demonstrated proficiency in its use. 1. Once issued, authorized uniformed and non -uniformed personnel will carry the Taser Energy Weapon in a fully armed state, with the safety on, in the issued holster on the support side, in a cross -draw fashion to prevent an unintentional draw of the firearm. 2. Authorized non -uniformed sworn personnel may check one out of the Equipment Room , if one is available. a. The Taser Energy Weapon will be issued through the Department’s Records Management System (RMS) , as wi th any other equipment. b. The officer will test the Taser Energy Weapon as described in this Order. c. When the assignment is complete, the Taser Energy Weapon will be returned to the equipment room and scanned back into RMS. 3. Authorized officers who no longer wish to carry the Taser Energy Weapon will turn it in to the Equipment Room, and have it removed from their personal inventory as soon as practical. B. The Taser Energy Weapon , the cartridge(s), and the holster will not be altered or tampered with in any way , nor will any of the manufacturer’s markings be covered or altered. Only issued cartridges are authorized. C. The Department Armorer will maintain an inventory by serial number and expiration date, and track all Taser Energy Weapons , cartridges, and accessories delivered to the Department for issue. Batteries will be inventoried by physical count. D. Testing the Taser Energy Weapon 1. The Taser Energy Weapon will be tested for proper operation each