The San Juan Police Department has become the latest law enforcement agency in the Rio Grande Valley to incorporate the use of tasers.
The electroshock weapons are used in Harlingen and other police departments across the United States to cause neuromuscular incapacitation.
San Juan Police Chief Juan Gonzalez spent the day Thursday training his officers to use them.
"If they don't want to comply, if they're active-restistant, showing aggression to us, then we're going to use one of our first options, which will be the taser," Gonzalez said, addressing the group of officers.
Gonzalez told Action 4 News the decision to use tasering was based on recent encounters with violent offenders.
Three methods were used in the training:
- Drive Stun
- Probes
- Alligator Clip
Each had a different effect, allowing officers to feel the pain that violent offenders would feel.
Somehow even I was convinced to participate, playing the role of a suicidal subject, holding a knife to my neck.
I didn't fare so well to the effects of the taser, even though I didn't get zapped for 5 full seconds like everyone else was.
Chief Gonzalez said the tasers will only be assigned to officers on the SWAT team.
Action 4 News asked the chief what he would say to someone out in the community who might be concerned over their use or possible misuse.
“I would say to them that this is a safe tool and this is an electronic controlled weapon and it's operated through proper training, proper supervision and proper management and based on the circumstances of the individual,” he responded.
The chief said their use in the field will begin once the training is complete.
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