So I’ve always wondered this, I watch a lot of code blue cams etc etc, all the YouTubers. Just cause I think it’s interesting seeing how cops deal with certain scenarios good and bad.
I do notice quite often that tasers seem to fail to make good connections or don’t deploy correctly or snag clothing and put officers in sticky situations. Is this actually the case or is it because a situation where a taser doesn’t deploy is more likely to show up on YouTube?
TLDR: Are tasers fairly reliable? Do you think they could be improved?
Comments
60% of the time it works every time!
In all seriousness I’m about 50/50 for effectiveness of taser deployments personally. I always have a back up plan for it failing.
There’s a ton of times tasers are used in situations where they are almost guaranteed to fail. What you are seeing is most people’s experiences with the taser.
Are they “reliable?” I’d say yes, in circumstances where they actually have a chance to work. Could they be improved? Probably, but more training and emphasis to go hands on would be better.
I can say it happens often enough to be part of the training curriculum when getting certified for Taser. It is generally reliable, we wouldn’t carry it if it wasn’t, but we train and prepare for the possibility of a failure because it happens.
There’s a lot of variables that need to be accounted for.
Example: I work in a relatively rural area, and outside of the small cities, almost everyone is a rancher, lumberjack, truck driver, mechanic, etc. Most of these guys wear heavy leather or canvas Carhartt jackets year round. No way is a Taser working on someone with a jacket like that.
Tasers fail about half the time. Often defeated by clothing.
It’s a coin toss. I think it’s as much the taser as the person deploying it. A lot of cops are far too tool reliant and don’t really have a move other than a taser.
Tasers, prior to the dual laser versions, had a pretty low success rate. About 33%.
When the newer models had two lasers, you knew where the bottom one would land so they went up to about 60%.
Latest is much higher now as they can make several shots.
Big problems are getting two in on a moving target and thick clothing in winter climates.
As soon as I pull a taser, mentally I’m prepared to go hands on instantly after the pop.
I’ve had more fails then NMI. I’ve had delayed deployments, where I pulled the trigger and there was about a 2 second gap before they shot out. I’ve also had prongs land no where close to where the red laser said it would. I’ve had jackets prevent contact.
One guy caught a prong to the nuts. I had the bottom laser on his thigh halfway between his belt and knee. He did have total NMI until he hit the ground and ripped the prong out though.
The actual statistical success rate of a taser is 39%.
Use of OC sucks because you expose yourself.
Generally, I prefer using my hands above all else.
Workman’s comp cases dropped 98% .
Well if they work great it’s less exciting for a video right?
Tasers are overhyped by the manufacturer as well as the media. Tell me how much you would rely on a plastic battery operated gizmo that shoots little non-aerodynamics darts via compressed air?
The more prolonged, crazy fights and shootings do better, so much more likely to get viewers.
That said, ever since getting a taser 7, I have not had any deployments not require both shots to be effective. My original X26 I probably had 20 some deployments. I can think of maybe 2 where it didn’t work, and that was after we switched to 15 ft cartridges.
I’ve had probably 15ish deployments with a 7 spanning both jail and patrol. I remember my first time using it on patrol. Had a foot chase where a guy ran, slows down and I tase him. He stops, pulls the wire out and says “could you fucking not” before getting on the ground and complying.
I use my taser for foot chases and that’s it.
They might work MAYBE 40% of the time if the planets are aligned. Honestly, Ive gotten way more compliance by the SIGHT of an un-holstered Taser.
Tasers need both prongs to connect for a full effect sometimes one or both prongs miss or clothing is too thick for penetration.
That and meth.
In 2024 I had 8 taser deployments. Only achieved NMI on 2 of the 8 so not so great.