Officers tout effectiveness of Taser device

Arnolds Park Police Chief Al Krueger shows the X26 Taser model used by his police officers. In Arnolds Park, Tasers were deployed 9 times in 2009. (Photo by Anitra Wolf * DCN STAFF)

While the Taser sees controversy elsewhere in the nation, Dickinson County's law enforcement officers consistently use the words "effective" and "useful" in describing the contributions of the device in local police efforts.

The Taser is an electrical control device that emerged in Lakes area law enforcement about five years ago. It works by delivering an incapacitating pulse to an individual's neuro muscular system through a pair of pronged propelled wires. The Tasers have a range of 35 feet and deliver a five second pulse.

'Effective' and 'Useful'

"The Taser is a very useful tool," said Arnolds Park Police Chief Al Krueger. "Since I've been in law enforcement, it's probably been the best tool out there for using force. Statistics show that the number of injuries they prevent is astronomical."

The Arnolds Park department has had its Tasers for about five years, and Krueger says the department has deployed the Tasers nine times in 2009. The city's Taser policy was updated this fall.

"We got a deal from Iowa Law Enforcement Academy to update our policy according to Taser's policy," said Krueger. "Taser came out and said their preferred target area is to not hit center mass with the prongs. The target area is the rib cage and below, and the ideal place is the back."

Each full time officer on the Arnolds Park Police Department carries a Taser device. Officers in Arnolds Park and other local departments are retrained each year and often get tased themselves to learn the effect.

Milford's officers also each carry a Taser.

"In our department, we've carried our Tasers for two years," said Milford Police Chief Vernon Flack. "Out of the two years, we've deployed our Tasers three times... Every time a Taser is used, we file a report of why, how and where the Taser was used."

Flack says Milford's Tasers contain a special feature.

"The Milford Police Department is the only department in Dickinson County that has a camera attached to each Taser," said Flack. "Once we deploy it, everything is video and audio recorded for both the officer's protection and the defendant's protection."

Defusing situations

"I can count three lives that were saved because of the Taser," says Dickinson County Sheriff Greg Baloun. Baloun described incidents where disgruntled individuals were tased to take guns and knives out of the hands of perpetrators. "There were lives possibly saved because we don't have to take that next step to deadly force."

Sheriffs deputies and members of the jail staff each carry a Taser device, and Baloun estimates about six Taser deployments in 2009. Baloun said the Tasers have been especially effective in maintaining control in the jail atmosphere.

"In the old facility, everybody was together," said Baloun. "If they were in there for any amount of time, personalities would clash. Sometimes we would have to go back and fight with them to regain control. When fighting inside a cell where it's all steel and cement, somebody usually gets hurt."

The presence of Tasers has nearly eliminated injuries in the jail.

"Since we've had Tasers, we haven't had to fight," said Baloun. "It's saved the county a lot of money in medical costs and downtime for hurt employees... They're a little controversial but for our agency where they've been used, they've been effective. We've had zero work comp claims for an employee having to fight with somebody."

Personal use

While Tasers are most commonly found among law enforcement, there is also a model available for personal use.

Doug Ricke, owner of Bam'd Sales in Spirit Lake, sells a Taser C2 model for self defense purposes.

"This Taser has a range of 13 to 15 feet," said Ricke. "The law enforcement Tasers are five seconds; these are 30 seconds. If somebody comes at you and you feel your life is in danger, you take it out... Just the laser sighting can deescalate a dangerous situation by 80 percent. If you do tase somebody, what the Taser company wants you to do is drop the device and run free. If you document that you used the Taser for self defense purposes, Taser will send you a new one for free."

Ricke says retail price of the Taser C2 is approximately $345, and he's seeing some homeowners deciding to use them to protect themselves.

"Some people just aren't comfortable having a gun in the house," said Ricke.

The personal use Tasers do not work at the time of purchase. Those who buy them must call in to the Taser company, provide proof that they are at least 18 years old and pass a felony background check. After passing the checks, Taser representatives will walk Taser owners through programming their self defense tools.

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What does it feel like to be tased?

Since members of local law enforcement often under go tasing during training exercises, the Dickinson County News asked them to describe how it feels to be shocked by the devices.

"I would compare it to an electric fence, but a little more painful." - Arnolds Park Police Chief Al Krueger

"The best way I can try to describe it is a full body charlie horse for five seconds. You can talk, your muscles just tighten up to where you can't move." - Milford Police Chief Vernon Flack

"It's like grabbing on to bare wire sticking out of an outlet." - Dickinson County Sheriff Greg Baloun