Training for the use of conducted energy devices (CEDs), commonly known by the brand name Taser, is a standard requirement for officers who carry them. However, the specific requirements for experiencing the electrical discharge vary significantly across different police departments and state agencies. The decision to mandate or offer voluntary exposure represents a policy choice balancing officer preparedness, device proficiency, and safety considerations. Because of this variation, a universal answer does not exist, and the mandate depends entirely on the officer’s specific agency.
Understanding Conducted Energy Devices
A Conducted Energy Device (CED) is a non-lethal weapon designed to temporarily incapacitate an individual through an electrical current. The most widely known CED is the Taser, which operates by firing two barbed probes connected by thin wires. When the probes attach, the device delivers a high-voltage, low-amperage electrical pulse. This current interferes with the body’s neuromuscular system, causing involuntary muscle contractions, a process known as Neuromuscular Incapacitation (NMI).
The primary purpose of a CED is to subdue violent or actively resisting individuals without resorting to lethal force. This temporary incapacitation overrides a subject’s motor responses, allowing officers to gain control and safely effect an arrest. This technology bridges the gap between physical restraint and the use of a firearm, minimizing the risk of serious injury.
Policy Variations: Is Taser Exposure Mandatory?
No federal standard mandates CED exposure for all law enforcement officers in the United States. Policy is determined at the state, county, or individual departmental level, resulting in a patchwork of mandatory, voluntary, and prohibited exposure rules. While officers must complete specific training to carry CEDs, the requirement for physical exposure is a separate policy decision.
Many major police departments make exposure mandatory for all new recruits and officers seeking certification. Proponents argue that experiencing the device firsthand is necessary for proficiency and confidence. Conversely, the manufacturer, Axon, does not require exposure for officer certification, though it mandates it for instructor certification.
Other agencies maintain a strictly voluntary policy. Departments that avoid mandatory exposure often cite liability concerns or the potential for injury. They still require extensive training on the device’s technical operation and tactical deployment. This decision often balances the benefits of officer empathy and credible courtroom testimony against perceived health risks.
The Training Rationale: Why Officers Undergo Exposure
The justification for requiring CED exposure centers on confidence, proficiency, and empathy.
Confidence and Hesitation Reduction
Experiencing the device’s full five-second cycle directly demonstrates the weapon’s effectiveness, building an officer’s confidence in its ability to subdue a resisting subject. This firsthand knowledge reduces hesitation in deployment, ensuring the officer uses the tool when legally appropriate rather than defaulting to a higher level of force.
Articulating Use of Force
Another rationale involves the officer’s ability to articulate the use of force in reports and courtroom settings. An officer who has personally experienced Neuromuscular Incapacitation can credibly testify to the device’s power. This experiential knowledge helps justify its use as a necessary measure to overcome resistance and is a significant factor in defending the use of force in a legal review.
Fostering Empathy
The exposure is also intended to foster empathy for individuals subjected to the device in the field. By feeling the intense, involuntary muscle contractions and associated pain, officers gain a deeper understanding of the physical and psychological toll the CED inflicts. This empathy promotes responsible use and helps prevent officers from deploying the device punitively or inappropriately.
Protocol for Voluntary Exposure Training
The process for a voluntary exposure event is highly structured and conducted under strict safety protocols. Training is typically performed on a mat to mitigate the risk of secondary injuries from falling once the officer is incapacitated. The trainee stands ready with two officers acting as “spotters” or “catchers,” positioned to safely guide the officer to the ground when the electrical cycle begins.
The CED instructor fires the probes from a training cartridge, targeting the officer’s back or leg while avoiding sensitive areas. The device runs for a full five-second cycle, the standard duration for field deployment, to provide the most realistic experience of the NMI effect.
Immediately following the exposure, the officer is often required to simulate the arrest process, known as “cuffing under power.” This drill ensures the officer and spotters learn how to control and secure a subject while the device is cycling or immediately afterward. The physical event is followed by a medical assessment to ensure the officer has not suffered any adverse effects.
Medical Screening, Waivers, and Safety Precautions
A rigorous medical screening process is mandatory before any officer participates in a live CED exposure. This screening identifies pre-existing conditions, such as heart issues, recent surgeries, or pregnancy, that could increase risk. Failure to pass the screening is a valid reason for exemption from exposure, even under mandatory policies.
Medically cleared officers must sign a liability waiver or an “advice of risk” form. This document outlines the potential risks and confirms the officer has provided informed consent.
Trained medical personnel, such as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or paramedic, are required to be present throughout the training evolution. Their presence ensures immediate care is available for any unexpected adverse reaction or secondary injury. Post-exposure protocols require a final medical assessment and careful procedures for the removal of the probes, which are considered a biohazard.
Alternative Taser Training Methods
Alternative methods are used to ensure proficiency for departments that do not require full CED exposure or for officers with medical exemptions. Scenario-based training is a primary alternative, placing officers in realistic, high-stress situations where they must decide whether to deploy the device. These scenarios utilize modified training devices or simulators to track aiming accuracy and decision-making without delivering a full electrical charge.
Another method involves utilizing the device’s “drive-stun” mode. Here, the CED is pressed directly against the subject without probes being fired, providing a painful electrical shock. This mode does not achieve the full Neuromuscular Incapacitation effect, but it familiarizes officers with the feel of the device’s discharge.
Specialized training cartridges are also employed. These cartridges fire probes but deliver either no electrical current or only a reduced charge. They allow officers to practice safe handling, aiming, and deployment procedures, ensuring technical mastery and sound judgment in a simulated environment.