Taser Independent Evaluation Report

Independent Evaluation Report of TASER and
Air TASER Conducted Energy Weapons

Sgt. Darren Laur, Victoria Police Department, Sept 10, 1999

“Simply, when the TASER^® darts strike a subject, they send a current (50,000 volts) through subject’s body between the two dart points. This current interferes and overrides the body’s neuromuscular system and thus voluntary muscle control is lost between the two dart points”.

“ The (model) TE86/95 is Tasertron’s newest two shot model”. “There is no doubt that the biggest benefit that the TE86/95 possesses is the ability to deploy two sets of darts if needed. “ Because of its design it is fairly bulky and therefore not easily carried”. “Due to the fact that the Tasertron cartridges uses a rifle primer to propel its darts, there will be carbon residue from the primer left behind. Due to the fact the carbon is a good conductor of electricity, if it is not cleaned, it could cause misfire. Even worse, there have been some reported cases where the carbon residue was so bad that it caused the electrical current to jump over to the second set of darts initiating an involuntary discharge”. “ Tasertron recommends that all of its TASER units only be operated with a specifically recommended Ni-Cad batteries. For best results, it is recommended that Ni-Cad batteries be replaced every shift with a freshly charged one”.

“The Air TASER (Model 34000 by Taser International) uses the alkaline 9v battery as its power source. In colder weather, the performance of alkaline batteries decreases very quickly.” “On average it takes between 3-5 seconds for most subjects to be controlled”.

“The number one weakness of the Air TASER (Model 34000 by Taser International) is the fact that it only has a single shot capability”.

“The most common injuries reported from TASER are the puncture wounds that are left by the TASER darts if they puncture a subject’s skin. Although easily removed by medical staff, the darts will leave a small bee sting type puncture wounds. Associated with this puncture wounds will be discoloration (redness) about the diameter of a pencil shaft. Like it or not, this redness is medically classified as a first degree burn caused from the electrical current of the TASER. If the TASER current is applied for more than 4-5 seconds, a small blister (second degree burn) may appear at both probe points”.

“Although there have been some serious injuries that have been sustained as a result of the TASER being used, these were secondary injuries such as: blunt trauma injuries from a person falling after being shot with a TASER, one incident of a TASER dart puncturing an eye, and two incidents where the TASER current ignited subjects who were soaked in a flammable liquid. “