Taser, Taser, Taser

When I’m at work and I hear ‘taser, taser, taser’, it has a couple meanings for me. In the first instance, it means that I’m about to deploy the ‘less-than-lethal’ weapon at a subject that is assaultive and I need to gain their control. In the other, another officer is deploying the taser and I and anyone else better get out of the way as the prongs and charge are coming toute suite. However, a new meaning is also emerging in the public, one that seems to be synonymous with ‘taser’: media attention.

Since the highly publicized and video recorded tasering of a Polish man at the Vancouver Airport, it seems the media has reporting on any use of the taser where someone is injured or dies after the arrest. As a result of their reporting, more often than not the media and general public immediately draw a causal line between the taser and the arrested subjects’ death. Whether or not the taser contributed to the person’s death, one should not rush to judge the situation or officers involved. Of course, there are always the possibility of taser abuses by police, just as there are incidents with other weapons, including firearms, batons, pepper spray, the list goes on. However, as I hope to show — there is more to these taser stories than the general public tends to see. We’ve all seen the videos, but what exactly is going on? What some have already argued is that it’s not the use of force option (ie. baton, taser) that kills the subjects, it’s the common factor of their behavior.

While on the job, I have used my taser only once and pointed it several times with intent to use it should the situation worsen. Thankfully, in my experience, the laser cross-hair when illuminated on someone’s body tends to have a certain calming effect. Unfortunately, these exceptions are not always possible. In my own taser deployment and the other ‘close calls’, I was dealing with a person suffering from ‘excited delirium‘. Sadly, ‘excited delirium’ has become a bit of a buzz-word lately, which seems to take away from the seriousness of the situation and affected person.

What is it really? Excited delirium is still rare, but can be found in people who have an adverse reaction to illegal drugs and/or suffer from mental illness. The onset of this is also sudden. In one of my own instances, it was a sudden trigger of an acute mental illness that caused the behavior. Those that suffer from an onset of excited delirium exhibit very tell-tale signs: incredible strength, incoherent speech, profuse sweating, attraction to glass and/or mirrors, paranoia, hallucinations, illogical thoughts, indifference to pain, violent aggression, nudity, bizarre behavior.

What does excited delirium look like for a cop? Picture this: You attend a disturbance call. There are reports of a man running around naked in a business area, acting strangely. When you attend, you see the man who is in fact naked and running, stopping between cars in the parking lot. As you approach him, you see that he has smashed windows in vehicles with his bare hands. You are told that witnesses saw him jump through a plate glass window at a nearby business. No one seems to know who he is. As you look at him, you see that he is covered in blood from head to toe, with cuts and gashes all over him. You also see his body is hot, steaming like a whistling kettle. His eyes are widened and stares at everything and nothing, while making incoherent statements about wanting to join God and his lovely dog who left him. As bystanders gather to watch, you try to keep their distance from him as you wait for backup to arrive. You try talking to the man, but realize its futile, as he isn’t comprehending what your saying. While waiting for backup, you contemplate how you are going to apprehend this man. After seeing the damage he caused to property, you realize it is going to take quite a few officers to control him. When your backup arrives, the man starts to charge at citizen bystanders. You must act to protect them and yourself.

In these situations, where you are dealing with a crazed person, the taser is one of your better options. Getting into a physical confrontation with excited delirium persons is dangerous, as many exhibit incredible strength. In my own experience, myself and my partner were no match for the person, as he dragged us around the apartment without effort. The bottom line is that these people and situations are unpredictable, volatile and potentially violent — requiring a use of force that will be effective in controlling the person with the least amount of injury. Over the past few days, I was looking for a particular video that would be a perfect example of an excited delirium arrest, and how dangerous they can be without a taser. It was of a few US police attempting to gain control of a crazed naked man in a barbershop. The fight lasted for a long time, with police equipment and police officers being thrown about this barbershop. Finally after eight officers arrived, the subject was taken under control. At the end of the video, one officer hands another his gun back. It is a very eye opening video, which I’d encourage anyone to find and watch.

For the public, have another look at the Vancouver airport video. As we do in court — you must take in the totality of the incident from before the time the video began until after the man is cuffed. Do you see the characteristics excited delirium? If you look closely in the video, you will see clearly the man’s state. Notice how he is bouncing four officers off of him when they are trying to cuff him? Itself is not the most extreme case, but definitely a characteristic one.

So how do these people die as a result? I’m not a doctor, but as we’ve been taught, excited delirium hits the body like a freight train. The body is firing all cylinders, faster than it ever has before — for an extended period of time. Then when the arrest is made, they suddenly stop. Their heart arrests, their breathing arrests and death can result if medical help isn’t close by. Imagine how you feel when you run flat out, sweating, blood pumping, then suddenly stop yourself. The pressure on the heart is tremendous — especially in these cases. Officers must be able to recognize this and have the training to act in the safety of everyone, including the distressed person.

A few tips for the cops out there. Remember, excited delirium is a medical emergency. If you get one of these calls and the immediate safety of anyone is not in jeopardy, try and contain the person while you call for paramedics. Wait as long as possible before attempting to apprehend the person and only do so if possible when paramedics arrive on scene. If using the taser to effect hand-cuffing, do it as quickly as possible and turn the person on their side when control is obtained. Never leave the person on their stomach or have weight on their back. Have the paramedics aware of the situation and prepared to administer their calming drugs and ensure a quick trip to the hospital. In most in custody death cases, immediately after cuffing is the danger zone where cardiac arrest can occur.

As police, we see the whole range of these incidents and how dangerous they can become. I only hope that citizens who judge officers involved in these incidents first learn a bit about the situation before they automatically condemn those involved.

And to the video taker in Vancouver — its amazing how grateful you were on your own video that officers attended and protected the safety of those in the airport. How things must change when you’re offered bundles of money for your video by the media. Perhaps you should take action yourself next time and help out these officers rather than praising them on video, then condemning them after being offered money. Pick up the torch man, pick up the torch.

Tags: taser, RCMP