Trooper: Taser gun use uncommon, but used when necessary
By Greg Angel
Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.
Read more: Local, Crime
PETOSKEY -- 50,000 volts.
That's the charge that can be emitted on the standard taser gun carried by most Michigan State Police troopers.
Monday, troopers in Emmet and Otsego counties had to utilize their taser guns to subdue two men in two different altercations after both men resisted arrest and began fighting with officers.
"The intention is to effect an arrest without permanently hurting someone," said Trooper Ron Nadeau with the Michigan State Police post in Petoskey. Nadeau is also one of the taser gun trainers at the post.
The taser guns eject two metal prongs which attach to a person's body and transmits the electricity. The effects of which cause a person's muscles to momentarily freeze up.
"I would say most people here haven't used their tasers on anyone so I would say it's not common," Nadeau said. "We use it when we have to."
Troopers go through an initial three hour training course before using the taser guns. Nadeau says the taser guns are a tool used as a last resort.
"We first try talking to people, we talk people out of any sort of altercation," Nadeau said. "If they fight with us or we think its going to go worse, we'd rather tase them and be done with it than to have to fight with them and to use deadly force at some point."
Nadeau says officers face many uncertainties on every call they respond to, so if or when to use their taser gun varies by situation. Nadeau says while there may be risks, he says being able to use a taser gun is better than being resorted to using a firearm.
