USAG POHAKULOA, Hawaii - U.S. Army Garrison Pōhakuloa's police force became the first Army police department in Hawaii to be certified to use the Taser when it completed training on June 29.
The Taser training was the culmination of three-days of training that included active shooter training and exercises as well as radar and Lidar training.
Department of the Army police instructors from the USAG Hawaii Directorate of Emergency Services conducted the training and certified the Pōhakuloa officers.
Each of the officers had to shoot the X-26 Taser at several targets, be shot by the Taser and pass a written exam in order to be certified.
The X-26 Taser has a laser sight that places a red spot on a person. When the officer pulls the trigger a Nitrogen cartridge fires two barbed-metal prongs attached to thin wires up to 15 meters. When the prongs embed themselves into a person the device shoots 40,000 volts of electricity into him or her.
The electricity temporarily disables the person and allows the officer time to subdue, restrain or handcuff him.
A police officer can also use the X26 in drive stun mode by removing the cartridge. This exposes two metal prongs which the officer presses onto a person.
Officers can mount a small camera to the X26 that records audio and video when they fire it. The officer can download the audio and video to a computer to review later.
Police Officer Ivan Ng said he felt the shock run through his body when he was hit. He likened the sensation to getting a shock when you plug a cord into an outlet, only stronger.
"It lasts for five seconds but it feels like it's longer," Ng said.
Police Sgt. Lance Stevens said the shock from the Taser caused his muscles to contract immediately.
"It felt like the hardest workout I ever had," Stevens said. "My muscles got so tight, there was pain from my muscles cramping."
Stevens said it is good to have the Taser as part of his department's equipment because it gives the police another option in challenging situations.
"I definitely feel more confident to have another level of force," he said.
Related Links:
U.S. Army Garrison-Pohakuloa's Flickr site
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