That phrase has been heard frequently in the Warsaw Police Department's training room in recent weeks.
As of this week, all officers with the Warsaw Police Department have been trained, certified and equipped with tasers. They will carry the devices on their duty belts and have them available for use when on patrol.
WPD officers now carry the Taser X26, which, according to www.taser.com, is "an electronic control device that uses a replaceable cartridge containing compressed nitrogen to deploy two small probes that are attached (to the device) by insulated conductive wires with a maximum length of 35 feet." Once deployed, the device "transmits electrical pulses through the wires and into the body affecting the sensory and motor functions of the peripheral nervous system. The energy can penetrate up to two cumulative inches of clothing, or one inch per probe."
The Taser X26 affects both a person's sensory and motor nervous systems, leaving them temporarily incapacitated. This type of taser uses neuro-muscular incapacitation, commonly known as NMI, to stop a person without causing pain or injury. The electrical charge temporarily renders the perpetrator immobile, allowing officers to take control of the situation safely.
Warsaw officers had to complete a training session, take a written test and complete practical training before they are certified. All officers must be certified before they are allowed to carry the device.
And while it was voluntary, nearly all Warsaw's officers chose to be shot with the device during the training session.
"It's not painful," said Sgt. Mike Spiegle. "It locks you up, you can't move. It is the worst feeling, but when it is done, it is the best feeling. You just tighten up and are incapacitated."
"It is more intense than pepper spray," said Cpl. Brandon Zartman. "But the effects don't last nearly as long as pepper spray."
"I'm glad I did it, really," said Lt. Steve Rockey. "I was apprehensive at first, but after I had it done, I was really glad I did it."
During the training session, instructors Kip Shuter and Doug Light teach other officers about how the device works, proper maintenance and situational uses for it. Officers also watched videos of actual tasers being used in a variety of situations.
After the teaching session, officers donned safety glasses and, with spotters holding them up, experienced a training shot. The training shots, like regular shots, last approximately five seconds. During that time, the office is unable to move, and the spotters help guide him to the ground, face down, on a mat. Once they recovered from the jolt, usually a few seconds, officers got up and made room for the next person.
The only difference between the training cartridges used to shoot the officers and the cartridges used in the duty tasers is the lengths of the probes. The cartridges officers will carry have probes that are longer so they can easily penetrate heavy jackets, leather or other thick clothing.
The tasers put out about 0.0036 amps of electrical charge, less than a single bulb for a Christmas tree, which has an output of 1 amp, and much less than the 16 amps put out by a 110-volt wall outlet. Tasers will not cause electrocution in a wet environment, and usually do not cause urination or involuntary bowel movements.
Once the training shots were finished, officers then took the written exam and got to the "fun" part - practical training exercises.
The practical training session gave officers the opportunity to practice using the taser they will carry in a special holster on their duty belts.
Practical training included deploying the tasers, shooting at special targets, changing cartridges and shooting a live moving target. Instructor Doug Light donned a special padded suit and hat with a face shield and simulated a perpetrator trying to evade police while officers shot at him with the new devices.Now that the training is complete, all Warsaw police officers are equipped with a taser and will be able to use it if the situation presents itself.
