TASER Device Rules Agreed by Sheriff’s Office

After a three-year Department of Justice investigation into the Orange County Sheriff’s Office employment of TASER devices, an agreement has been reached that calls for the sheriff to include additional policies for the self defense device that is utilized by his deputies.

The Department of Justice agreement with the Sheriff’s Office lists 19 accountability, policy and training provisions that feature innovative amendments and procedures to the current rules on the stunning device use.

Initially, when the U.S. Justice Department announced its inquiry into the employment of the TASER weapons in 2007, it was the first review of its kind.

In 2008, the report from the DOJ advised the Sheriff’s Office against employing the tools on people who were under the influence of drugs or who showed signs of extreme agitation, violent or bizarre behavior – signs that depicted excited delirium.

Furthermore, officers were advised to avoid stunning suspects who were already in handcuffs or restrained, and to avoid stunning them more than once.

Since 1999, the issue of TASER devices has been a controversial discussion to many critics when TASER International initially distributed its products to thousands of law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

Of course, while there are many who criticize the employment of the devices, they have proven to be extremely useful to the officers who utilize them to protect the lives of innocent people, while apprehending suspects without the need to employ brute force.

Because of this, when it regards the issue of these tools it will always be a contentious issue for those who believe that the employment of the devices are too excessive. But when you compare TASER devices to firearms, then the safety of the self defense weapons far outweighs the firearms.

Not only that, but nowadays law enforcement agencies are keen to employ devices that limit the amount of risk to either the suspects or themselves. This was never possible when firearms were employed, but with the assistance of the non-lethal devices they greatly increase the safety for all those involved.

This could only be seen as a good thing; however, there are still those who think more policies should be employed, which will only mean more restrictions applied, and limited use of the tools themselves.