Senior Master Instructor Deputy Don Gulla

Master Instructor Don Gulla
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King County Sheriff’s Office 23 yrs
Master Instructor Since 2000
Dept Taser Coordinator
Assigned to SWAT/Firearms/DT
Currently 450 Tasers Issued
90 % X-26
10 % M-26
2006 175 Taser Deployments
Down from 362 Deployments in 2004

Purpose of Training
To provide overview of a new more
effective technique of Cartridge On
Drive Stun Technique which will:
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Improve NMI
Reduce number of applications
Gains compliance or control sooner
Leaves less signature marks
Improves Officer/Subject Safety

Angled Drive Stun
King Co Sheriff’s Office has only
paid out on one Taser Use:
•Media Driven-Made Local News
•M-26 Cartridge Off - Drive Stuns
•Deputies were 100% within policy
•Did what they were trained to do

Angled Drive Stun
During training I noted that 70% of
Cartridge On Drive Stuns (CODS):
•Did not induce NMI
•Current flow would be either to
2 Probe Location or
End of Cartridge Location
•Student Could Continue to Struggle, Could
Roll, Grab at Probes or Move Away
from the Drive Stun

History – During Demo of CODS
•Trying to hold down a struggling
student I accidentally angled the
cartridge’s end and
•Student locked up with NMI
•After looking at the video I could see
NMI occurred when cartridge was angled
•Tested on Target – To see effect

Angled Drive Stun Demo

Tested ADS for a year during classes
•Noted Signature Marks during test to
check flow patterns
•Currently ADS is taught to all King County
Sheriff’s Office Deputies during
Recert, User and Instructor Classes
•Taser User Reports verify ADS increased
NMI and Successful Taser Uses

How to tell when ADS is needed
during Cartridge On – Drive Stun
•Lower or Upper Body continues to
move during deployment
•Head movement and ability to talk
•Reaching for or grabbing at
Taser/Probes Location
•If prone starting to get up off the
ground
•Obviously no signs of NMI

Cartridge On – Angled Drive Stun
•Deploy Cartridge On-Drive Stun in
normal manner
•Move Cartridge End to a flat area
of body if possible
•Rock to Top Right or Lower Left

Training Video- Angled Drive Stun

Video of Target Training

Taser Targets Demo of ADS
•Taser Target with cardboard
backing (to protect floor)
•Start with room lights on
•Deploy Cartridge direct contact
or about 2 inches from target
Turning X-26 Taser to OO
Can see arcing better with
Laser and Low Light turned off

Taser Targets Demo of ADS
•Spark Taser for a couple seconds and note
arcing
•Move Taser to next location and keep flat
•Spark Taser for couple seconds and ask
students where’s the current flowing ?
•You’ll most likely see arcing at
Probe ends only or
Cartridge end only
•Next start a 5 second cycle with cartridge flat
and rock it to Top Right and Lower Left

Taser Targets Demo of ADS
•You’ll note that arcing at some
point with travel across target
from probes to cartridge
•Repeat at NMI Point – Let
students practice
•Remember to turn Low Light and
Laser back on

Questions ?
Deputy Don Gulla
King County Sheriff’s Office
Phone: 206-423-1270

AIMMA

Email: Don.Gulla@Arrestling.com
Address: Po Box 868
Ravensdale WA 98051-0868
Website: www.Arrestling.com