Sheriff’s department to employ use of tasers

by Al Summers
News Editor • alsummers@timescourier.com

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Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, right center,
grimaces in pain as he receives the electrical thrill of
the Taser X26 last week as part of the traing that would
allow him to carry the neuromuscular incapacitator if he so desired.
All Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department employees must volutarily experience
the taser before they will be issued the device, in keeping with the department’s policy.
The two officers at the sheriff’s sides were there to keep him from falling and hitting his head.Contributed photo

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Soon, deputies with the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department will employ the use of tasers as a way to subdue unruly suspects and inmates.

Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson stepped front and center last week and experienced the power of the taser after being shot by one of the deputies. Nicholson said the taser’s shock was not something he would want to experience again.

The sheriff told the Times-Courier it is part of the department’s policy that “requires voluntary exposure” to the weapon and its force.

Nicholson said the voluntary exposure equates to “the deputy will have to be shot.”

The sheriff and other officers experienced the power of the Taser X26 Electronic Control Device, which works as a neuromuscular incapacitator.

Nicholson said, “It basically jams the nervous system while it is being employed.”

The sheriff explained that compared to the use of pepper spray and baton strikes, the taser is a pain compliance technique – “We administer the pain, the subject complies.”

The dose of the electricity in the taser affects the sensory and motor systems of the body. It “locks up” the muscles of the body while the shock is being applied.

The taser produces 50,000 volts and between .002 and .004 amps.

“One of the benefits of taser use is that the recovery time is instantaneous as opposed to the recovery time for pepper spray, which can be up to a few hours, and baton strikes, which can break bones that take weeks to heal,” said Nicholson.

The sheriff also said statistics show that injuries to officers and injuries to suspects went down after departments implemented taser use.

When Nicholson was asked why he went through the training when he has stated that he will probably not even carry a taser, he said, “If our officers are going to use this mode of restraint, I want to personally know what the ramifications are. I went first because I felt like it would boost the confidence of those who would be going through the training.”