Before the Storm: My decision making process for taking a TASER hit

In my department you have the option during basic TASER training to get tased. It may be optional but it is encouraged by the administration and the instructors. Many in my department have opted not to get tased for a variety of reasons. I go to basic TASER training today so I sat down to write an article about the pros and cons that I used to decide thinking it would help other officers facing a similar decision.

But being a supervisor, I found that my decision making process ended pretty quickly. Do I lead from the front and by example. Since I try to, then my decision is made and I ride the lightning like my officers. Your decision process might not be so easy so here are arguments that seem to be discussed by those for and against taking a TASER hit. I also encourage you to read Matt’s experience getting tased in Riding the Lightning.

Arguments against taking the TASER hit

Injuries from being tased
This one has merit with me. Several officers in our department have suffered injuries from taking the hit. The worst had the probe break off in his back and had to go to the hospital to get it cut out. Others have messed up their backs to the point they couldn’t work for several days. One had trouble walking for several days because his hip hurt so bad. Beyond these officers, at least half report sore muscles in some part of their body for a day or two after the hit. Calves and back seem to be mentioned more than any other muscle groups.

My friend broke a vertebra in his neck from a bad car wreck and he still tends to turn his whole body rather than his neck when he looks at something. If I was him, I wouldn’t take a hit because of the risk to a body part that is already messed up.

Don’t have to shoot myself
This argument has no logical merit to me because shooting yourself guarantees permanent injury. Even if you pick a non-lethal spot to shoot yourself, I can’t think of any of my parts that are not so important that I am willing to destroy them. Also, the recovery time will be significant.

With TASER shots, most likely you can work immediately afterwards and the chance of permanent injury from a TASER hit is extremely small, almost zero.

It’s just a job
Some officers have an adversarial relationship with the job. They sacrifice their time for a paycheck and their goal is to be as stingy as possible while continuing to get paid. Their motto is don’t give the job anything that isn’t required. Taking an optional TASER hit doesn’t fit their perspective.

It hurts
Here is the real reason for many officers that won’t take it. They just won’t admit it to anyone. They use the other reasons to cover up this fact. I have to admit that this reason pisses me off. It’s only FIVE SECONDS then its over. Cowboy up!

Arguments for taking a TASER hit

Reduces the critic’s cries of cruelty and abuse
In the current environment of videos flying all over different types of media, cops have generally used the argument that getting hit with the TASER isn’t that bad otherwise we wouldn’t do it to ourselves.

Guaranteed, if you did not take a hit and are involved in a controversial TASER shot that has gone viral on TV and the Internet, the defense attorney will repeatedly throw that in your face in front of the jury. I would.

What is not guaranteed is that you will be involved in a controversial use of force. Think about it as insurance for the nightmare scenario. Many refuse the insurance with the “it won’t happen to me” stance. Although the odds are heavily in your favor, the fact of the matter is you don’t know if it will happen to you until it is too late.

Leadership from the front and setting a good example
As I said in the beginning, this issue applies to supervisors and informal leaders in the department.

Are we warriors?
It is hard to have a warrior mindset if you are afraid of injury. If you are young and in good health but don’t want to take the hit, I seriously think you need to take a hard look inside yourself and examine your true reason. Thinking you are a warrior does not make it so. Actions define you and this decision is probably in line with the others you have made in the past and those you will make in the future. Does that mean that skipping the hit is the first step on the slippery slope of becoming a pus__?

In my mind it is not. I know officers who did not take the hit that have a long history of charging into brutal fights. Not taking a hit has not changed their mindset. Most of them are older and for them it is about lasting longer. They don’t want to spend the health they have left on a PR or trivial issue. They want to spend it on something with honor and value.

Serious mindset
Officers that take the hit seem less prone to abusing the TASER. They have felt the pain and don’t tase people indiscriminately. One of my fellow supervisors told me that most of the people in his class that had not taken the hit were joking about tasing someone to try it. No one who had been tased was participating. There appeared to be a difference in seriousness.

Deadly force considerations
Several officers mentioned that they would have no problems using deadly force against someone who threatened them with a TASER. They felt taking the hit gave them a better understanding of what it could do to them and would give them credibility testifying why they killed someone that threatened them with a TASER

Other arguments for or against?

I tried to hit the major reasons for or against taking a TASER hit but I’m sure that there are others out there. Add them in the comments below so others can learn from your reasons, experiences, and opinions.

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