LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The 37th Security Forces Squadron recently added another tool to their non-lethal force options.
The Taser X-26, authorized for use Air Force-wide last June, can aid officers in gaining control of a potentially dangerous situation while playing a role in officer and subject safety.
"Only certified Security Forces active duty Airmen will be carrying Tasers," said Capt. Doug Whitehead, 37th SFS operations officer. "No flightline security, ISR or security at the gates will have them; they are strictly for the Airmen that are law enforcement certified."
Captain Whitehead said using a Taser is becoming commonplace in law enforcement and it has been deemed to be a very effective tool. Other non-lethal force options are a baton and pepper spray.
"Along with the Taser course we've added the use of force test, which re-emphasizes our use of force procedures of when they can and can't use a Taser," Captain Whitehead said. "We are getting use of force training at least four or five times a year reiterating all the necessary requirements for using certain tools.
"This is not a recurring theme where we expect we have to use (Tasers). We've had a baton for years, spray for years and (we) rarely have to use those. We expect to rarely have to use a Taser."
He explained that Tasers only would be used when subjects become actively resistant, meaning all other methods used to subdue the subject have not worked, and the subject is becoming aggressive toward an officer or is assaulting someone else. It can also help prevent situations from escalating to lethal-force levels.
"The Taser not only promotes officer safety because we can hit them from a particular distance, but it also promotes subject safety; we're not striking them with another weapon," said Captain Whitehead.
He said the Taser is less intrusive to the subject than other non-lethal tools. When a baton is used, it generally results in broken bones, immediate medical attention and pain; effects of a spray can last for hours.
With a Taser, the subject only feels the effect when being stunned, the shock wears off quickly and there are no lasting effects.
The model Security Forces will use delivers 1.3 watts of power, it was tested on 300 people before being sold, and was found not cause severe muscle contraction.
"I am 100 percent confident the Airmen will do the right thing with the Taser," he said. "It's just another tool, and we are not promoting its use. We are promoting the knowledge of the tool for the base population so they know what we have."