CHESWOLD POLICE Department of Public Safety

ADVANCED CEW POLICY

Effective Date: Directive Number: March 24, 2014 10-4-5 Special Instructions: NONE Distribution: Last Re-Evaluation Date: Total Pages: All Sworn & Civilian Personnel Oct. 3, 2016 REVISED 9

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to establish guidelines for officers in the appropriate Response to Resistance and deployment of the Conducted Electrical Weapon (TASER).

II. POLICY

Consistent with the Department’s philosophy of utilizing the minimum amount of reasonable force to control a combative person, the Taser is to provide less-than lethal use of force. The Taser is considered an additional police tool and is not intended to replace the use of firearms or self-defense techniques. The Taser may be used to control a dangerous or violent subject or an uncooperative subject who is potentially dangerous or violent, when attempts to control the subject by other tactics have been, or likely will be ineffective; or there is a reasonable expectation that it is unsafe for officers to approach within contact range of the subject; or it is indicated that officers, offenders or others would be endangered by the use of close contact/hands on physical force. The decision to use less-than-lethal force is predicated upon the immediate danger posed by the subject confronted by the police rather than the nature or category of the offense. Only sworn departmental personnel who are Taser trained by the department and current in certification with the use of the Taser will be authorized to possess it as well as implement its use. Only Tasers issued and approved by the department will be utilized. Officers will only carry their Taser in an approved holster. No changes or modifications to the Taser are authorized.

III. DEFINITIONS TASER: An Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD) device that is less than lethal and propels wires to conduct energy that affect the sensory and motor functions of the central nervous system.

LESS THAN LETHAL: Force applied with the intention to subdue or render a subject non-threatening, with a lower probability of producing serious physical injury or ADVANCED CEW POLICY Page 1

fatal results.

DRIVE STUN: When the Taser is applied directly to the pressure points on the body for a pain compliance technique.

TASER Conducted Electrical Weapon: A device that uses pulses of electricity to incapacitate suspects. The weapons are designed to deliver up to a 50,000 volt charge with low power and can incapacitate at a distance. Two metal probes connected by insulated wires are propelled by nitrogen gas into the targeted suspect. An electrical signal is transmitted through the wires to where the probes make contact with the body or clothing, resulting in an immediate loss of the person’s neuromuscular control and the ability to pulses are conducted through the wires for a number of seconds. The electric pulse delivered by CEW incapacitates suspects by causing the muscles to contract, resulting in the loss of body control. The device may also be discharged as a contact device.

DATA PORT: A mechanism that stores the downloadable time and date of any discharge of the CEW TASER device.

AFID CARTRIDGE TRACKING: TASER International’s Anti-Felon Identification (AFID) system enforced accountability for each use of the TASER device via the dispersal of tiny unique coded tags every time the device is fired. These small, confetti-like, micro-dot identification tags expelled from the cartridge contain the serial number of the cartridge.

IV. PROCEDURES

A. Taser CEW’s may be used when:

1. Force is legally justified against subjects who are actively resisting arrest, non-compliant, or are exhibiting active aggression through words or actions towards an officer or third party actually present.

2. To incapacitate a subject who poses a threat of physical injury to himself/herself.

3. Against aggressive animals that pose a threat of physical injury to officers or another person.

4. It is understood that deployments against humans may be very dynamic in nature and the probes may impact unintended areas.

5. During department authorized training programs and/or demonstrations.

B. Officer should not use a Taser when:

1. The use of the Taser would occur in a flammable or explosive environment (i.e. a meth lab, where gasoline is stored, alcohol base OC spray, etc.)

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2. The result from a fall could be dangerous. (Example: the subject could fall from significant heights and receive injury or in water where the subject may not be able to swim or support him/herself.

3. The subject is handcuffed (unless the subject continues to pose an immediate threat of harm or injury to the officer, themselves or the public).

4. The subject refuses to obey commands but is not posing an immediate threat or danger.

5. The Taser will never intentionally be aimed at the eyes, face or groin.

6. The Taser should not normally be used against obviously pregnant females, the elderly or young children.

7. Officers will make every attempt to avoid deploying the Taser at the center mass of the body.

8. Officers will make every attempt not to deploy the Taser on a subject who is exhibiting signs of “Excited Delirium” (See attached defining Excited Delirium).

C. Deployment

1. Officers should attempt to obtain sufficient back-up before deploying the Taser. Since the effects of the Taser are temporary, the additional officers should use this window of opportunity to properly restrain the subject.

Note: Under exigent circumstances, nothing in this policy prohibits an officer from deploying the Taser without first having the presence of additional officers. However, the Taser operator should not attempt to utilize the Taser and effect an arrest at the same time.

2. If the opportunity presents itself and is practical, the Taser operator should point the laser sight at the subject and give verbal commands prior to deploying the Taser.

3. Officers shall announce “Taser” to other officers before the Taser is deployed. This will let the officers involved know that the Taser is being deployed so it is not mistaken by sight or sound as a firearm discharge.

4. Cartridges will be replaced before their expiration date. Extra cartridges should not be carried in pockets due to the risk that static electricity could cause an unintentional discharge of the cartridge.

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VI. RESPONSIBILITIES

Officers shall:

1. A Full 5-second Spark/Functionality test must be completed once per 24 hours prior to start of shift to check X26P is operating correctly and battery performance

2. Point Taser in safe direction and remove cartridge from Taser, place safety switch in armed position and pull trigger for a full 5-second cycle.

3. Observe operation of X26P spark and battery levels along with cid for any faults. Report any discharges, including accidental discharges to Supervisor.

4. Visually inspect the contact site on the subject. Probes penetrating the subject’s skin will be removed by the discharging officer.

5. Ensure that photographs are taken of the probe penetration site(s) and any secondary injuries caused by the subject falling to the ground, etc.

6. Once the probes have been removed, they will be treated as a biohazard.

7. Enter photographs, expended Taser cartridges with probes and a limited number of AFIDs into evidence.

8. Treat or request treatment for any injury caused by the Taser or any secondary injury caused by the use of the Taser.

9. Complete or provide information for the completion of event reports, charging documents, and the complete the CPD “Use of Force Report.”

10. Officers will re-certify annually on the Taser by a certified TASER instructor and be required, as part of that recertification, to fire two (2) training cartridges.

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X26 TASER QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

OPERATING PRINCIPLES

EMD (Electro-Muscular Disruption) overpowers signals that allow the brain to communicate with the muscles. EMD affects sensory and motor nerves.

SPECIFICATIONS

50,000 Volts Shaped Pulse Technology o.162 Amps 1/100o th amount of electricity to be dangerous Safe for Pacemakers (pacemakers designed to withstand 150 joules, X26 outputs 0.36)

Cartridge Propellant: nitrogen gas @ 1800 psi Muzzle Velocity: 160 feet per second

Maximum Range: 21 feet Optimum Range: 7-15 feet Dart Spread: approximately 12 inches per 7 feet traveled

Distance to target: 2 ft. 5 ft. 7 ft. 10 ft. 15 ft. 21 ft. Spread (inches): 4” 9” 13” 18” 26” 36”

Works through clothing up to 1” thick.

TASER POLICY: … is considered a protective instrument. … IS NOT DEADLY FORCE

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This form is designed to assist the officer by providing an easy format to maintain records of Taser use. These records may be useful for criminal or civil court actions. COMPLETION OF THIS FORM IS VOLUNTARY AND DONE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE OFFICER. COMPLETION OF THIS FORM DOES NOT RELIEVE THE OFFICER OF ANY REPORTING OBLIGATIONS.

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TASER POLICY EXCITED DELIRIUM

Excited Delirium is a condition that manifests as a combination of delirium, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, speech disturbances, disorientation, violent and bizarre behavior, insensitivity to pain, elevated body temperature, and super human strength.

Excited Delirium Syndrome, if it results in sudden death (usually via cardiac or respiratory arrest), a relatively frequent outcome particularly associated with use of physical control measures, including police restraint and Tasers. Excited delirium arises most commonly in male subjects with a history of serious mental illness and/or acute or chronic drug abuse, particularly stimulant drugs such as cocaine. Alcohol withdrawal or head trauma may also contribute to the condition. The pathophysiology of excited delirium has been unclear, but likely involves multiple factors. These factors may include positional asphyxia, hyperthermia, drug toxiTown, and/or catecholamine-induced fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

Some Signs and Symptoms for Excited Delirium may include: Paranoia Disorientation Hyper-Aggression Tachycardia Hallucination Incoherent Speech or Shouting Incredible Strength or Endurance (typically noticed during attempts to restrain). Hyperthermia (overheating), profuse sweating (even in cold weather). Some other medical conditions that may resemble excited delirium are panic attack, hyperthermia, diabetes, head injury, delirium tremens*, and hyperthyroidism.

Officers should be familiar with the signs and symptoms.

* Symptoms of delirium tremens may include seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations), confusion and irritability, severe trembling, and seizures. In rare cases, delirium tremens can lead to death if it is not treated. ¹ 1 (www.webmd.com).

ORDERED and EXECUTED 3rd day of October, 2016 ______Christopher Workman Chief of Police

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