17 August 2011

Tasers on the frontline

17 August 2011 | By johnboy

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has endorsed the provision of 15 additional electrical incapacitant devices (EIDs), or Tasers, to ACT Policing’s most experienced frontline officers following a review of its use-of-force options.

From August 22, 2011, Tasers will be issued to trained, substantive ACTP Sergeants only, effectively providing three units for each police station in the ACT.

ACT Policing will become the sixth Australian State or Territory police service to equip its frontline officers with Tasers, although tactical police in every Australian jurisdiction now carry them.

Tasers were introduced to the ACT for specialist-trained tactical officers in 2004. The recommendation to issue Tasers to senior General Duties police follows a four-month review by ACT Policing.

Chief Police Officer for the ACT Roman Quaedvlieg said 15 units was appropriate, enabling officers to better protect themselves, their team members and the community.

“Tasers have become a legitimate use-of-force option for police to de-escalate violent situations, and can be vital in ensuring our officers are safe while conducting their frontline duties,” Chief Police Officer Quaedvlieg said.

“A review has been completed and there are clear operational benefits which include a high-deterrence factor against violence, immediate incapacitation in threatening situations, the ability to deploy a Taser at a safe distance and the safety of our officers as well as the public.”

The Tasers will be issued to operational on-duty Sergeants who must first complete international-standard training. All other ACT police officers will receive familiarisation training to ensure they can provide appropriate support in the event a Taser is deployed.

ACT Policing currently has 46 Tasers: 34 issued to Specialist Response and Security (SRS) and 12 for training purposes.

“The additional Tasers will be in the hands of highly-experienced and trained officers who are accustomed to using their professional judgment to ascertain the best use-of-force options,” Chief Police Officer Quaedvlieg said.

The implementation of the additional Tasers will be reviewed by the AFP’s Operational Safety Committee.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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lukpea1:40 pm 23 Aug 11

Pft, tasers in the ACT, i think all ACTPOL shoud be seconded to NSWPOL to undertake duties in Bankstown, Cambelltown and Liverpool, might learn a thing or too…

Additionally, Seargants pft again, do people not remember the watchhouse Seargant and co who were dismissed for excessive use of force, imagine the damage that can be done with a taser.

Skidbladnir8:16 pm 18 Aug 11

zippyzippy said :

There’s a difference between ‘maintaining your rights’ and being a d*ck to police.

Ok, and on which occasions do they tase you?

Actually, explicitly identifying the situations and circumstances of use was meant to be the entire point of discussing it with the Assembly first, which didn’t happen.
The community shouldn’t have to guess, and shouldn’t be left guessing.

Henry827:52 pm 18 Aug 11

zippyzippy said :

Ok, and on which occasions do they tase you?

Run at police with a knife, with a bottle, or something that constitutes a weapon
Run at police wanting to fight, yelling, being generally aggressive.
Trying to overpower police, or make a lunge for their weapon

I think that about covers it.

hotwasabee7:27 pm 18 Aug 11

zippyzippy said :

Henry82 said :

zippyzippy said :

Why don’t we let police do or use whatever they want then, because ‘if you don’t mess around’ you don’t have to worry about it! .

There’s a difference between ‘maintaining your rights’ and being a d*ck to police.

Ok, and on which occasions do they tase you?

The ones where you’re a d*ck. Maitaining your rights doesn’t constitute violence and being agressive.

I don’t think normal people have anything to fear. Bear in mind the BS these guys go trough everytime they pull the trigger on one of these. It would almost negate the joy in taseing(?) a meth head.

zippyzippy6:54 pm 18 Aug 11

Henry82 said :

zippyzippy said :

Why don’t we let police do or use whatever they want then, because ‘if you don’t mess around’ you don’t have to worry about it! .

There’s a difference between ‘maintaining your rights’ and being a d*ck to police.

Ok, and on which occasions do they tase you?

Henry829:39 pm 17 Aug 11

zippyzippy said :

Why don’t we let police do or use whatever they want then, because ‘if you don’t mess around’ you don’t have to worry about it! .

There’s a difference between ‘maintaining your rights’ and being a d*ck to police.

Classified8:37 pm 17 Aug 11

zippyzippy said :

creative_canberran said :

… stop whining. If you don’t mess around, you won’t get tasered. Simple.

Oh no, terrible attitude! Why don’t we let police do or use whatever they want then, because ‘if you don’t mess around’ you don’t have to worry about it! Maybe police could use, like, morning stars and exploding harpoons too. Just don’t mess around and it doesn’t matter. Simple.

Exactly. What reason would the cops have to use any type of weapon on you are you are complying with their direction?

farnarkler7:51 pm 17 Aug 11

Ok so lets take a hypothetical; a police officer is confronted by someone aggressive and armed who is off their heads on drugs. Do the greens want the officer to offer a flower? I mean really, what viable alternative do the greens have or are they ok with police using their guns????

Jethro7:47 pm 17 Aug 11

Don’t tase me bro.

zippyzippy7:45 pm 17 Aug 11

creative_canberran said :

… stop whining. If you don’t mess around, you won’t get tasered. Simple.

Oh no, terrible attitude! Why don’t we let police do or use whatever they want then, because ‘if you don’t mess around’ you don’t have to worry about it! Maybe police could use, like, morning stars and exploding harpoons too. Just don’t mess around and it doesn’t matter. Simple.