Taser Training
By: Kimberly Williams
Updated: March 8, 2007
It's one of the leading tools in law enforcement. "It's one of the best tools I've seen to come out as far as officer safety and even the safety of the perpetrator," said Master Taser Instructor Sonny Harmon. Tuesday officers from all over the Ark-La-Tex came to the Bossier Parish Criminal Justice Academy for some first hand training on the use of tasers. Law Enforcement Equipment Distributor Ben Farmer was the first to get tased. "It felt like a hot jackhammer going down my leg.... You can tell I'm still a little shaky," said Farmer. Shreveport, Caddo and Bossier Parishes already use the X26 Taser as a way to subdue would-be suspects.
Officers at the training class got to see the newest tool in the fight against crime. It's called the Taser Cam. And here's how it works... A camera located at the base of the taser starts recording video and audio, as soon as the safety is turned off. It even switches to infrared in low light conditions. "It records everything before, during and after the altercation which can be used as evidence," said Farmer. So when the suspect goes to court, officers have full report of the incident from beginning to end. "It adds a level of protection for the officer, for the department and the suspect," said Farmer.
The Taser Cam isn't being used in our area yet. But it can easily be added onto the X26 Tasers already being used in Shreveport, Caddo and Bossier Parishes. They only cost about $400 each.
