Taser manufacturer: Don't aim at chest

Raleigh, N.C. — The company that makes Tasers has asked law enforcement officers across the country to avoid hitting people in the chest, and several North Carolina agencies said they plan to heed the warning.

A bulletin from TASER International, based in Arizona, asks officers to avoid the face, neck and chest and instead aim for the stomach or below.

Company officials said they are concerned that attorneys will file an “excessive use of force claim against the law enforcement agency and officer and try to allege that the Taser played a role in the (death),” especially when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

“By simply lowering the preferred target zone by a few inches to lower center mass, the goal achieving Neuro Muscular Incapacitation can be achieved more effectively while also improving risk management,” the memo states.

“The recommendations they're giving us today seem reasonable,” Raleigh Police Chief Harry Dolan said.

Leaders of local agencies, like Raleigh police and the North Carolina Highway Patrol, said they will incorporate the new policy in their training. However, officers’ safety comes first and hitting the chest is allowed if necessary, leaders said.

“We've adjusted our training, we're in the process of doing that now, and the next classes that come through our training, we'll teach them to use the preferred areas,” state Highway Patrol spokesman Capt. Everett Clendenin said.

Highway patrol leaders said they have 600 Tasers. They will alert troopers about the new guideline by e-mail and in future training sessions.

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Latest Comments

By the time you decide you need to use the tazer, you don't care where it hits.

BubbaDuke
November 3, 2009 12:32 p.m.

Aiming it at the groin would probably be more effective anyway ...

rargos
November 3, 2009 12:14 p.m.

All drugs aren't illegal...genius. I never said they were just like I never said someone should get a bullet instead of being tased. My guess is the people being tased are not just walking down the street minding their own business.

People should have some responsibility for their actions. Drink too much and don't listen to LEO commands? Take illegal drugs and don't listen? Take Legal drugs with the notice; this drug causes drowsiness, don't operate machinery or take with alchohol, and drive, and don't listen? I think the LEO's have a tough enough time doing their jobs and it's easy to second guess them when you are sitting at a computer.

fishon
November 3, 2009 11:31 a.m.

"Company officials said they are concerned that attorneys will file an “excessive use of force claim against the law enforcement agency and officer and try to allege that the Taser played a role in the (death),” especially when someone goes into cardiac arrest."

I understand their argument. But I don't agree with ANY lawsuit about its use. First, they could have used a gun instead. Would that cause a lawsuit? NO! Second, this would not have occured if the criminal had not been a CRIMINAL! In MY opinion, once you cross the line, you should be at the mercy of authorities. If you don't like that, don't cross the line!

DeathRow-IFeelYourPain-NOT
November 3, 2009 10:34 a.m.

Before the taser was an issue, they were still using guns and spray. The issue at hand was the power of the ammunition. The 9mm was cutting through walls and even flesh and hitting targets unintended. We were seeing stories on the news and in print of people getting hit when there was an exchange of fire and a round went through the wall of a house and struck a child.

So the officers went to the .40's that didn't penetrate as far. Then they went an additional step and used fragmenting rounds. The problem with the fragmenting rounds is they don't always do the job. They also developed rounds that were non metal and did not damage your barrels, but would bruise the suspect. Even those can have their downside.

So the Taser became the hot ticket item. Only downside in MY eyes, people with implants and neurological issues. You have no clue IF that exists when you are about to use it.

You can't develop a "perfect" device for LEO's and security.

Travised
November 3, 2009 10:27 a.m.