AREA POLICE FORCE TO SOON CARRY TASERS

LACEYVILLE - Laceyville Police will soon carry Taser-guns as a way to
better handle the increasing number of arm-to-arm combat situations.

Sgt. Rhonda Smith, of Laceyville Police, said that with the increasing
number of drug related crimes, specifically methamphetamine, a Taser-gun
can not only be an advantage towards assuring the police officer's safety,
but also may benefit the alleged criminal if there were a need for
arm-to-arm combat or lethal force in bringing a situation underhand.

"Meth is becoming an increasing problem in our county. Most of the users,
when approached, become very combative and often a side effect of the drug
is that the individual shows extraordinary strength. The Taser is just
another tool we can use in those situations," said Smith.

A Taser, as explained by Smith, will fire two compressed nitrogen probes up
to 21 feet at speeds of over 160 feet per second into the muscle of the
criminal.

These probes are connected to the Taser device by insulated wire. 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 perform coordinated
action for the duration of the impulse.

"It doesn't matter what state of mind the person is in or their tolerance
for pain, the Taser will stop anyone, big or small. There are no long-term
effects. An officer just has to pull out the probes and rub the punctured
area with rubbing alcohol," said Smith.

Smith said that sometimes OC spray (pepper spray) does not work on
individuals that are high on drugs. She added that often if there is an
innocent person near the targeted person, there is a risk of overspray with
"peppering" a person who is resisting arrest.

In a case when there are multiple targets, the Taser-gun can be adjusted so
that the probes fire to hit different targeted objects. This, said Smith,
would be a tool used by the officers during a "crowd control" incident.

When firing the gun, the trigger is held by the officer for about five
seconds, the effects last for only about a minute. This allows ample time
for the officer to detain the individual. If the first probes shot do not
alter the individual's behavior, the officer can shoot the device multiple
times. In total, one cartridge is capable of 350 shots.

"The circumstances would have to be extreme before we would every use it.
But it is a tool that could bring a potentially bad situation to a quick
and safe end," said Smith.

Although there are several different types of Taser-guns with a variety of
range in power, Laceyville Police will purchase four Advanced X-26 Law
Enforcement Tasers. This particular device is capable of shooting 18 to 26
watts of electrical pulses at the target, with 1.76 joules per pulse; and
3.6mA average current.

The device has a digital read out, which allows the officer to track the
number of shots left to use and the date and time of every shot fired.

Smith said that Wyoming County District Attorney George Skumanick Jr. has
given the Laceyville Police force authority, with the proper training, to
use the device anywhere in Wyoming County.

Smith will be trained to use the device after 18 hours of a two-day session
of training. She will attend those training classes later this month in
Fort Washington, near Philadelphia and then will be certified to train
other law enforcement officers to use the device.

"As a part of the training and certification, I will be tased," remarked Smith.

Although a Taser-gun is not illegal in Pennsylvania to purchase as a
civilian, Smith said that individuals who work in law enforcement or
security are the only individuals who are eligible to use the device
legally with the proper training.