The gripping, wrenching, tormenting pain was matched only by the howling laughter.
Not one of the 10 Greenville police officers learning how to use their new department-issued Tasers on Monday could help but guffaw at the sight of a buddy hollering for mercy as 50,000 volts of electricity convulsed through his body for up to two seconds.
Not one of them. Not even if they were next. The mood was considerably light Monday because the officers were in a classroom, removed from the sort of threats they might see while patrolling the streets.
While the new less-lethal weapon isn't typically a laughing matter, Chief Willie Johnson said no other weapon has done more to diffuse serious situations.
The Taser discharges two prongs that cling to the target and transmit the voltage into the person's nervous system. It can also be used at close range as a stun gun, said Lt. Mike Harmon.
Greenville police officers fired the Taser 114 times since they first started using it about a year ago, and 105 of those were effective, a 92 percent success rate, Johnson said.
He said they used the Taser 65 times in 2003 and 49 times so far this year.
"It gives us an alternative to deadly force," Johnson said. "It has proven to be very effective."
The department has issued 106 Tasers in little over a year and Johnson hopes to arm all of his uniformed officers with one by the end of next year.
The city pays for the Tasers anywhere from $600 to $800 apiece with seized funds, he said.
"The drug dealers in essence are paying for them," Johnson said.
The department issued 20 new Tasers Monday, thus the training session.
As part of the training each officer must get at least a one-second taste of the medicine they'll be licensed to distribute at 5-second intervals to suspects who pose a threat to themselves or others.
Sgt. Mark Huntington prepared each of the officers by telling them there's nothing they could do to prepare.
"You're going to find out it's a lot worse than you ever thought it would be," Huntington said.
One by one each of the 10 officers found that out as two other officers held them up so they wouldn't fall hard to the ground.
"Hold on to me now," said Cpl. Jeff Browning, seconds before the voltage ripped through him. "Get that thing away from me," he said after.
Some were brought to their knees anyway or forced into a term coined by Huntington: "Uncontrolled profanity."
Staff Writer Andy Paras covers crime and courts. He can be reached at 298-4220.
http://greenvilleonline.com/news/2004/05/10/2004051030997.htm
