07:26 AM CST on Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Larry Conners, News 4

St. Louis (KMOV) - More and more police officers are keeping their firearms in their holsters when approaching a defiant suspect. Instead officers in many departments are turning to Taser guns.

KMOV

Taser International in Phoenix says its weapon can reduce injuries to officers, suspects and reduce deadly force. The company claims almost 6,000 police departments have Tasers and more than 100,000 officers use them.

Using compressed nitrogen it fires two probes at a speed of about 160 feet per second hitting a suspect with 50,000 volts.

When the probes hit anywhere on your body you lose all muscle control. Experts say it feels like getting hit with a lightning bolt through the top of your head. It causes a suspect to freeze on the spot.

Police agencies cite hundreds of cases where using a Taser was justified. However, critics point to several instances where they say the weapons were used inappropriately.

Examples: Tasers used on a teenager who ran after not paying his $1.25 bus fare. A 71-year-old man who wouldn't get in a patrol car, a pregnant woman already in custody in a police car, a 6-year-old who had a shard of glass and a 78-year-old protesting a parking fine

How safe is the Taser? In 80 to 90 cases out of almost 50,000 victims hit with a Taser died, but not immediately. That is a key point for those who say the Taser does not kill. Some officers say if the Taser were to blame, suspects would die immediately from the electric shock.

Reportedly, only eight of the documented deaths have been linked to Tasers. Keep in mind; often suspects hit with Tasers are on drugs or drunk.

Watch Part 2 of Larry Conners' report on Tuesday night at 10 p.m., then see it again, plus bonus video on KMOV.com.