Mineral County Sheriff's officers feel the sting of taser training

By MONTE TURNER

Mineral Independent

Mineral County Sheriff Mike Toth has been in office a dash over 90 days and the afterburners are still lit.

Six brand new police cruisers are being built right now. New body cameras arrived which would make Steven Spielberg envious.

State of the art tasers came in so all deputies are trained and the new equipment is in use.

“These are the latest tasers that have come out, the 7-CQs (Close Quarters) which shoot out 10 feet as that is normally more than enough when deputies are talking with someone,” Toth said.

The Law Enforcement community knows them as CEW (Conducted Energy Weapon) where they emit enough electrical current to incapacitate muscle but remain in the safety margin, and unless the unruly individual is overly intoxicated on drugs, usually face plants them immediately.

Finding trainers is difficult because the model is so new to the market that few trainers haven’t been trained yet.

But Paula Sullivan, a deputy with the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, and Jessie Guffin, Detention Corporal with the Flathead County Detention Center, are trained and were available, so this was their first class of teaching since graduating from the training class.

Detailed instructions were explained on correct procedures for testing and firing because these have two chambers rather than one as well as a reenergize-button to send another five-second shock once the darts have penetrated.

The darts are now spiral rather than only pointed as it’s been proven the spiral darts are more effective through clothing.

Power Point and classroom instruction expressed that when all possible avoid women that are pregnant, children, elderly and those with low body mass, which would be very thin people.

Alternative methods need to be considered if the situation has enough control for split second decision making.

Sullivan said the tasers that officers have used in the past pale in comparison to the 7-CQs.

“It’s mean and nasty if you want it to be,” she said.

In courtroom situations, having everything documented is critical and this equipment will be a key ingredient to cases. The taser talks to the body camera. If a deputy takes his taser off safety, it activates everybody’s camera within 30 feet if it’s not already recording. Any time it has been unholstered, it registers.

“We’re on the cutting edge of the newest technology with the body cameras and tasers,” said Toth during a break in the training and while the live demonstration was being readied.

Mineral County Deputy Shawn Visintin either drew the short straw or volunteered to be tased for the actual presentation of the effectiveness for the class to witness.

Face down on the floor he attempted to share the experience.

“It felt like the most painful kidney punch I could imagine. It’s hard to explain as it happened so fast and I’m still tingling,” he said about five minutes after the 2 darts penetrated his right kidney and buttocks.

Fellow officers were ribbing Visintin as many have had done this during their training, yet none volunteered to conduct a comparison-test.

“We’re bringing this department up to speed, especially in today’s world,” stated Toth. “If something happens, here’s the evidence between body cam footage and taser registrations.”