Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
May 15, 2008 issue
Controversial TASER Popular with Local Law Enforcement Agencies
New Report Suggests More Regulation Needed
Story by David Brewer
In recent years, law enforcement agencies across the United States and in the High Country have readily adopted TASERs as part of their standard arsenal. An electroshock weapon meant to stun and subdue a targeted subject from a distance, TASERS, a name brand, are marketed as an alternative to deadly force, allowing officers to subdue or inflict pain without the disadvantages of firearm-caused injuries and deaths.
When deployed, TASERs electrodes are pointed to penetrate clothing and barbed to prevent removal once in place. Some TASER models also have a drive stun capability, where the TASER is held against the target without firing the projectiles and is intended to cause pain without incapacitating the target.
In recent years, TASERs have come under fire in the wake of several high-profile deaths caused by the supposedly harmless weapons. According to a report issued by the N.C. TASER Safety Project, more than 280 people have died nationwide since widespread use of the weapons by law enforcement agencies began in 2001. Since 2006, 10 TASER related deaths have occurred in North Carolina alone.
In the High Country, law enforcement agencies including the Boone Police Department, Watauga County Sheriff’s Department, ASU Police Department, Avery County Sheriff’s Department, Banner Elk Police Department and Blowing Rock Police Department equip some or all of their officers with TASERs. Responses from officials at each agency were overwhelmingly positive regarding TASER use and effectiveness.
“I think [TASERs] have been very effective,” said Boone Police Chief Bill Post. “It gives us one more option as opposed to deadly force.”
In an incident where a suspect approached a Boone PD officer with a knife, Post said that the officer was able to subdue the suspect by deploying the TASER.
“It saved the life of that citizen,” said Post.
Post has been tased twice during training for the weapon and said that only a few seconds after the shock has been applied, he felt as though nothing had happened. Officers employed at all High Country law enforcement agencies are required to be tased during training and must repeat TASER training annually.
“It’s really just an amazing sort of feeling,” said Post. “I went to my knees both times.”
According to Captain William Greene of the Boone PD, officers routinely receive six hours of training before being allowed to carry a TASER.
“By far, the majority of times we’ve used the TASER, it’s been on the drive stun setting,” said Greene. “In spite of all the issues and negative publicity that have arisen, I do believe that they’re a valuable tool when used properly.”
Banner Elk Police Department Lieutenant Byron Clawson said that his department has been carrying TASERs for three to four years.
“It’s one of the better tools that’s come around in a long time that’s very effective,” said Clawson, adding that after being tased, most victims “fall like a tree.” He added, “It’s a lot better than taking a blackjack and striking someone.”
ASU Police Department Detective Darrin Tolbert said that his department has strict TASER carry policies and procedures that include the storage of TASERs when not in use, the signing in and out of the TASERs at the beginning and end of each shift, the use on resisting and/or violent subjects and the notification of supervisors when the TASER is deployed.
“Although the TASERs have been drawn and pointed at individuals on several occasions, the ASU PD has only deployed the weapon one time on a suspect,” said Tolbert.
According to the officers interviewed, no applications of the TASER by High Country law enforcement agencies have resulted in serious injuries.
However, the N.C. TASER Safety Project’s report raises issues concerning use of the weapons by officers in the state, including excessive force, use in public schools, passive resisters, multiple firings, flammables and restrained suspects. The report also examined TASER use on vulnerable segments of the population including minors, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities and people with mental illness.
Since the N.C. TASER Safety Project began examining TASER policies, only 13 of 70 counties in the state have made revisions to their TASER use policies. In Watauga County, the only existing restriction for TASER use requires officers to refrain from deploying the weapons when potential flammable materials are involved. There are no restrictions on TASER use in Avery County.
As of March, only 24 of the 70 counties that deploy TASERs do not have a policy in place preventing their use in the presence of flammable materials.
The conclusion of the N.C. TASER Safety Project’s report states that project representatives met with the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association to discuss the status of TASER regulation in the state. The representatives suggested the possibility of a joint or NCSA-drafted model policy to suggest preferred practices throughout North Carolina. However, at their meeting in February, an NCSA Executive Committee decided not to draft a model policy for counties to use as a standard because the “North Carolina Sheriff’s Association recognizes the authority of each sheriff to establish policies as deemed appropriate by that sheriff.”