Lakewood Police Officers today began carrying Tasers, and TLS got the first look at them in an exclusive interview with the Department’s Firearms Trainer, Sergeant Rob Shimonovich, and Officer Robert Lopez.
As first reported by TLS earlier this year, the stun guns, known as CEDs (Conductive Energy Devices), were only recently approved by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.
Lakewood is one of the first County departments to begin using the Tasers.
The guns run approximately $2,500 a piece, a small price to pay for preserving a life.
In certain situations, a CED may reduce the risk of death or injury to members of law enforcement, bystanders, victims, and persons subject to arrest and against whom this form of less-lethal force would be directed. The device thus may allow officers to resolve a confrontation without it escalating to a level where deadly force is required.
Stun guns were introduced as non-lethal weapons for police to use to subdue fleeing, belligerent, or potentially dangerous people, who would have otherwise been subjected to more lethal weapons such as firearms.
The gun fires small dart-like electrodes, which stay connected to the main unit by conductive wire as they are propelled by small compressed nitrogen charges. The cartridge contains a pair of electrodes and propellant for two shots, which are then replaced. (See video – using a training device which does not propel the darts.)
The first officers began today patrolling with the devices.
CORRECTIONS;
Taser’s are not stun guns, even though they do have a stun drive mode, their primary function is shooting two probes.
The Taser X2 (pictured) costs around $1200.
NJ is extremely non progressive regarding Taser deployment as it relates to PD and civilian use.
Knowing that Lakewood’s finest will finally have tasers is great to know but they do look bulky to carry! I ‘m assuming that the department take into consideration how this additional weight that the officer will have to carry doesn’t have a negative impact on their well being! I heard that there’s a vest that helps distribute the additional weigh evenly is available. Hopefully the Chief and town advocates for them for the officers! They deserve to have all the available tools for their welfare!