At 50,000 volts, a shot from a Taser can stun an unruly crook in a matter of seconds.
That’s what police in Stanwood and elsewhere are counting on.
Today marks the first day a Stanwood officer will carry the less-than-lethal weapon on the job. More officers are expected to be trained to use the devices.
The gun-shaped Tasers can be used at close range to temporarily shock a person into submission. The devices also can be fired from several feet away: barbed darts cling to a person’s skin or clothing and emit an electric jolt.
"It hurts like crazy. It overrides the central nervous system, and you can’t fight through the pain," said Lynnwood police officer Steve Johnson, who was stunned by the gun in training.
The Lynnwood Police Department equipped patrol cars with Tasers about four years ago. Police Chief Steve Jensen eventually hopes to get a Taser for every officer in his department.
Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart has the same goal for his more-than 200 deputies.
The sheriff’s office purchased a dozen Tasers, which are spread among precincts in Marysville, Monroe and Mill Creek.
It recently handed over one more to the Stanwood department, which contracts with the sheriff’s office.
Bart looked into getting Tasers almost two years ago. He said he is satisfied the technology has advanced enough to make the tools effective and safe for deputies.
"The Tasers they were making a year ago had a fairly short range and weren’t accurate," he said.
Deputies have used the new Tasers and have had good results, Bart said.
Mountlake Terrace officers have had Tasers in patrol cars for about two years, Sgt. Craig McCaul said. They’ve been used a number of times to apprehend combative suspects, he said.
Stanwood Sgt. Bill Bachand said the devices will save him and his colleagues from having to struggle with suspects, which can result in injury to both the officer and offender.
Police are equipped with other less-than-lethal devices, including pepper spray or a baton. But those devices can do permanent damage.
"At least its another option instead of pulling out a gun," Bart said. "I hope it reduces the times we use lethal force."
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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