1

Tasers and Related Accessories for DART Police

Operations, Safety & Security Committee November 13, 2018

James D. SpillerChief of Police and Emergency Management

2

• What are Tasers?• Police Department Pilot Program

Results• Contract Information

Overview

What is a Taser?

What is a Taser?

A Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) is aconducted energy device commonly referredto as a TaserTM. This device utilizescompressed nitrogen to shoot two smallprobes connected to the device with wire upto 21 feet. The wires conduct energy sufficientto cause uncontrolled muscle contractions tooverride an individual’s voluntary motorresponses.

5

What is a Taser?

The Taser is intended to control a violent or potentially violent individual while minimizing the risk of serious injury to civilians, officers and suspects.

6

What are the effects?

Taser Pilot Program

8

Taser Pilot Program

In June 2013, the DART Police Department implemented a pilot program to evaluate the use of a Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) in a transit environment. The CEW selected for testing was the Taser® X2. The purpose was to study the feasibility for use of a Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW) by DART Police Officers and measure its effectiveness in the following categories:

• Reducing the number of use of force incidents over the long term

• Control violent or potentially violent individuals and minimizing the risk of serious injury to citizens, suspects, and/or officers

9

Taser Pilot Program

In 2013, 13 original program participants successfully completed the two-day Taser® Instructor Course for the X2 model. All were exposed to a live deployment for five seconds.

In November 2016, an additional 14 new participants were added to the program and were assigned to the CBD Triangle. All 14 new program participants successfully completed the one-day Taser® course for the X2 model. All were exposed to a live deployment for five seconds.

10

By the completion of the Taser Pilot Program in September 2017, the Taser® CEW was carried by pilot program participants 8,244 times during 51 months of the pilot program. CEW’s were used as a force option by officers a total of 121 times:• Forty-one (41) times- officers displayed their Taser® during encounters

with offenders.• Fifty-four (54) times- officers displayed their Taser® and also activated the

laser during encounters with offenders.• Eleven (11) times- officers used the Taser® by drive stunning the offender.• Fifteen (15) times- officers deployed probes against physically aggressive

suspects.

11

During the evaluation period:

• 33 officers were assaulted/injured by offenders in 2013

• 42 were assaulted/injured by offenders in 2014

• 17 were assaulted/injured by offenders in 2015

• 24 were assaulted/injured by offenders in 2016• 14 were assaulted/injured by offenders in from

January – September 2017.

No officer who carried the Taser® CEW during thecourse of an encounter with a suspect sustained aninjury during the fifty-one month evaluation period.

Contract Information

13

• Term: – 60 months (5-years)

• Type:– Definite Quantity/Indefinite

Delivery

• Deliverables: 200 Axon X2 Tasers with accessories including batteries, holsters, training cartridges and performance cartridges

• Contract Price:• Not to exceed $404,200

Contract Information

14

Authorization to execute a contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. for 5-year Contract number C-2039481 -01

Recommendation