16:39

POLICE DEPT-CHIEF OF POLICE

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DEFAULTCSID

NO. 384

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PUEBLO, COLORADO POLICE DEPARTMENT

OPERAT'ONS BUREAU
MLMl>FA1'ff)uM

TO:

ALL PERSONNEL

FROM'

D.C. "OHM P. ERCU

SUBJECT.

AIR TASER POLICY

OATE,

1215100

A comprehensIVe policy covering tho use of less lethal weapar1S Is In tlte

works. That polley will cover, among otller things. the USB of the all' lasers.
In advance of the Issuance 0' that pOII(;)', thls memorandum will set forth the
gulclellnea for use of the lasers, whIch will be acfdro5$cd tIy' the policy.

1. All officers will be afforded the appDrtonity to rKelye training In the use
of the all' lasers. The training will begin (in fact, has begun) on each of the
Patrol Dlvotslon watches. The traIning will be MANDATORY for POlIto' and
Trafftc DIvision office,.,. OffIcers assllned to other divisions and sectlon8
may naake arTangements with one of the waloh commanders, ;lind tltGlr
own char.. of command. to attttnd one of the trainIng suslon5. Eventually,
the Tralnlnll section will be offertng the taser training, sa every ufftcer will
have the opportunity to attend. ONLY THUS': OFFICERS WHO HAVE
ATTENDED A TRAlNIMG SESSION, WILL BE PERMITTED, BY POUCY, TO
CARRY OR USE THe Alit TASl!:ft, however, It will probably be mandatory
for every officer who routinely respDnds 10 calls for service to have an air
tase" readily available.
2. The lasers will ONa..V be deployed end used I" a manner consistent with
the tralnlnl provided. A verbal wamlng will be ,hIe" BEFORE deployment,
not only to warn the Individual and encouraQe compliance, but to advise
other af'fIcers present that a LESS LETHAL weapon. as oPJlosed to it
firearm, Is being deployed. The tasers should ALL b. conslflcuously
ma"ked wtth the bright yellow decals Indicating -less lethal".

002

12/15/2000

•

16:39

POLICE DEPT-CHIEF OF POLICE

~

DEFAULTCSID

"".384

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3. In m05t cases, the police officer who uses the taser, will remove the barbs
from the In.dlvldual against whom the taser was deployed. Orlly when a
barb enters a sensitive area of the body (head, face. neck. groin, et~.) will
medical attetdlon be sought for removal of the barb. In those case5, the
Individual should be taken, by the otfieer(s), to one of the emervency
rooms, where the barb can be remo¥ed by medical authOrity. Fire Rescue
personnel and personnel employed by prtvate amt-ulances. will NOT, by
their QW'1'I pOlicy, remove the baltt&:. Fire Rescue MAY be summoned to
cvaluillto a person shot with it taser, If that person Insists on a mecUeal
evaluation. or If the crffh;er ar supervisor detennlncs treatMent Is
necessary. It Is NOT necessary to calf Fire Rescue EVERY time the laser
Is deployed.
4. A supervisor shall be notlfled EVERY TIME a taser Is deployed, and that
supervisor should respond Clulckly to the soene when possible. All uses of
the laser shall be documented by a "SubJee.t Management- report. If
possible, photographs shall be taken of the Individual and the marks
caused by tho ta.ser bart-s.. CoplQS of the photogr~phs. and the disc, shall
be tumed In wtth the sut-ject manageMent report.
5. Once removed 'rOM the Individual, the used barbs. shall be treatH as any
contaminated Item. They shall be handled w1lh cara, and reasaublo
measures should be taken ta prevent blood bOme contamlnatlDn. The
barbs shan be safely placed In tbe launching capsule, and both shall be
dep,oslted In one of the blo-hazard waste receptacles at the police station,
for disposal.
Tho•• who have been ttillned In the use of the alr·tasers may begin G3rrylng
them. and using them In accordance with the dlreotlves contalnecl herein.

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