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8-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, November 25, 2003 Tacti*cal and rescue officers have Tasers By ROBB SWYBROUS Special to The Champion Halton cops now have more power to fight crime - lit- erally. The service last week officially introduced bat- tery-powered Tasers as part of ils use-of-force options for the Tactical and Reseue Unit (TRU). A Taser was introduced to TRU on a trial brais about a year ago. TRU bas two six-officer units that are speciflcally trained to respond to serious situations within the region. Each of the 12 TRU officers went througb a four-hour training course 10 use the weapons, bowever, only tbree Tasers are cun'ently in use. The service received $35,000 fromn the provin- cial government to psy for Tasers and associated training. Staff Sgt. Andrew Fletcher said Halton police bougbt the first tbree Tasers for about $750 each and, ultimnately, plan to ouffit eacb TRU officer with upgraded models once they're approved for use in Ontario, wbicb could be later this year. Staff Sgt. Fletcher said Tasers give TRU a lest- lethal alternative 10 guns, night sticks and pepper spray for subduing suspects if needed. Other weapons could stili be used if needed, but Staff Sgt. Fletchser said tbe Taser offers the best option for officers wben dealing with poten- tiaey dangerous suspects. "The firing range is 21 feet," be said. 'Il inca- pacitates tbe person right away." The Tasers are sligbty bigger tban the stan- dard issue 40-calibre Beretta bandguns carried by Halton officers. Officers who carry the weapons hoister tbem on their chests, away from their bandguns. Tasers are powered by nickel-metal hydrate batteries that provide enougb energy to shoot two probes at an object that can penetrate about six centinuetres of clothing or latch directly onto skin. The probes emit a smail electrical charge (0. 162 amps) that causes issvoluntary contraction of muscles on die person who is bit, dropping him or ber bo the ground witbin seconds. The probes stay attached te the suspect allowing offi- cer 10 emnit a second charge if necessary. Recause the amrperage is s0 low, Tasers do not cause permsanent damnage t0 anyone who is bit. Staff Sgt. Fletcher sald Tasers can elimninate the need for an officer te draw bis or ber gun and means stray bullets won't bit innocent bystanders. Tasers can alto be better options than sticks or pepper spray because sbortly after the five-second charge is emîtted int a person he or abe can return te complete motor skili use. It can take tome people up te 40 minutes te recover from pepper spray blasts and nigbt sticks can cause bruises and fractures. 'There is always an after-effect (witb the other use of force options) wbereas with Tasers there is none of that,' sald Staff Sgt. Fletcher. r Keqq N* i Programming Schedule - Tuesday, Nov 25th - Monday, December ist, 2003 www.COg.co.cU iSe,, Opii Plaê hIn Eaily 5pim 6p11 PkWged Il!! Eti 5P11, flPi Plaged 1.! Eariy 5çe,, Sp. Plaged h.! 5-iSPi. MII.. RAaey Claien 5, e & 7:30Pe PkIN.i i LOie iiepm P sed hI! LMi & 7:30P.. Week Ediona & 7:Sopli Weehi Ediiai & 7iaipri WOMi Eail. S7 aPIi LMi Weeh EdiSa TVihALiiei. (LWe) We.k EdMa. & 7:SOpi Week Edi.. NOMT HMLON S DIilO hihiPa Seriai gmnona sas0Pi WMi Good Teste iSa0Pa Osier Heais C«i.eaia. 5:30Ma Be Ieph. 5:3pa The We.a piee 6*3hipi Opu6isi TV hiui (IU.) 5:30PM Be l.api.ed Sa3pa. Main Street 65301.. Sei s 5i!lie 3OPii Spl Giad Teste aSa0Pa Hakai Hies Ca>.,.. - MWi SMW Talk (La,) soo0P.i A Saai SetCka 7M 3 U -00r eIqe Launer Plaza Nw Oo 80pi. Mone Sarft Cie PaadOO-Pi MRta SuiSla " OOpi SpaieZONESa 500 Lauder Avenuepadeare Mifton, ON L9T 4R3 905-878-9306 MiItoi Rotary Chrlstmas IV AuotIob - Sat, Nov. 19*i 11 ýoW I ý R SI 1 o il