TASER Devices Ruled Out for All Says Chief

A Police Commissioner has explained to a newspaper that there is no requirement for TASER devices to be issued to officers other than those of the Special Operations Group. However, the state’s police association wants them to be issued to all frontline officers.

Intended as a non-lethal device for police to employ in confrontations with offenders, they have been the subject on controversy over the past few years. Currently the devices are issued to general duties officers in Queensland, Western Australia and NSW, in addition to being used by specialist groups in other states.

When it comes to Tasmania, the Police Commissioner said that the case was still open with regards to deciding whether or not the tools should be employed more widely. While the safety of the officers is tantamount, the Police Commissioner believes that the time to issue the devices in Tasmania is not right.

Instead of employing TASER devices, the police would continue to utilize pepper spray as the preferred non-lethal weapon. After completing a study it was found that the need for the stunning tools was not required at this stage. But that’s not to say the law enforcement agency won’t be keeping an eye on the events that happen around Australia and the world.

While the devices have certainly received plenty of criticism over the years about the use of them, they have proven extremely effective for officers when it comes to apprehending dangerous offenders. Not only that, but they are ideal devices when the need to gain control of a situation is required, or the need to eliminate a circumstance from escalating.

Of course, not everyone is going to be happy with the tools, but if they increase the safety of the officers and their suspects compared to the employment of a firearm then surely that is a good thing. In order to see officers taking advantage of the benefits of carrying a TASER device around with them, it is important that they undergo the extensive training first, so that no misuse of the tool will result.

By realizing what is involved through the training they receive it will hopefully educate officers in knowing that the misuse of these devices will only see greater public outcry from the public.