The Carroll County?s Sheriff?s Office is considering getting Taser weapons, which are designed to administer an electric shock that renders a person unconscious without killing him or her.
“We are actually in the research and planning process now, and considering future use,” Lt. Phil Kaston said.
The office is determining the county?s need for such a tool and examining the policies of agencies that use them, he said.
An increasing number of police departments are using Tasers, said Al Arena, project manager for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Howard County police this week were cleared to start using the stun guns.
The Harford County Sheriff?s Office has used the weapons for about five years with no major injuries, deaths or reports of misuse, Lt. Jim Eyler said.
One deputy told Eyler he had to only display his Taser in about a dozen incidents, and that was often enough to encourage the suspect to comply.
The police department in Anne Arundel, which has been researching Tasers for a year, plans to decide soon whether to use them and is “leaning toward them,” Lt. David Waltemeyer said.
The police department is currently developing a policy for the appropriate use of the weapon, he said.
Baltimore County is wrapping up a yearlong Taser pilot program and plans to evaluate any successes and problems, Cpl. Mike Hill said.
The department worked hard to tweak the use-of-force policy, which outlines how the device can be used ? such as stopping the attack of a violent individual ? and not used ? such as when aimed at a suspect?s head or neck.
“We did an enormous amount of research,” Hill said.
