Local cops train to avoid Taser, gun mix-ups

Apr. 17—In the aftermath of a deadly police shooting in which a Minnesota officer mistakenly drew her firearm instead of a Taser, local cops say their equipment and training are specifically designed to avoid such a mix-up.

kAmq@5J 42> 7@@E286 E92E 92D 8@?6 G:C2= D9@HD E96 @77:46C[ ae 1/4 J62C G6E6C2? z:> !@EE6C[ H2C? a_1/4 J62C 1/4@=5 s2F?E6 (C:89E D96 H@F=5 %2D6 9:> 2D 96 C6D:DE65 A@=:46 5FC:?8 2 EC277:4 DE@A :? qC@@:DE2[" !@EE6C D2:5 2D 2 >@CE2==J H@F?565 (C:89E DA65 2H2J]k^Am

kAm{@42= A@=:46 D2:5 E96:C EC2:?:?8 2?5 6BF:A>6?E 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ AC6G6?E DF49 4@?7FD:@? H96? @77:46CD 2C6 E9CFDE :?E@ E96 >:55=6 @7 9:89 1/4 DEC6DD D:EF2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm"xE'D 2 D25 D46?2C:@[" z:?8DE@? !@=:46 r9:67 #:492C5 z@E49:D2:5 3/8 "qFE H96? J@F 8@ @? E96D6 9@E 42==D[ J@F 86E :?E@ E92E K@?6 H96? E9:?8D DE2CE 86EE:?8 4C2KJ[ 2?5 :E'D 2== C624E:G6 3/8"k^Am

kAmz@E49:D2:5 9:D 56A2CE>6?E'D %2D6C fD 2C6 J6==@H 2?5 D:8?:7:42?E=J =:89E6C :? H6:89E E92? E96 3=24v=@4cd A:DE@=D 9:D @77:46CD 42CCJ]k^Am

kAm"*@F'G6 8@E E@ C62=:K6 E92E H:E9 J@FC H62A@?1/8 :E'D =@2565[" 96 D2:5 3/8 "*@F'C6 E2=6?ED ?2E:@?H:56 1/8 z:?8DE@? A@=:46 42CCJ E96:C A:DE@=D @? E96 D:56 @7 E96:C 5@>:?2?E 92?5D[ H:E9 E96:C %2D6CD @? E96 @AA@D:E6 D:56 @7 E96:C FE:=:EJ 36=ED[ 96 D2:5 3/8 k^Am

kAm"x7 J@F 92G6 J@FC 8F? 2?5 J@FC %2D6C @? E96 D2>6 D:56 1/8 J@F'C6 567:?:E6=J 8@:?8 E@ CF? :?E@ 2 AC@3=6> — 6DA64:2==J @? 2 9@E 42==[" z@E49:D2:5 3/8 k^Am

kAm 7/8 77:46CD :?G@=G65 :? 9:89 1/4 DEC6DD D:EF2E:@?D ?665 E@ >2A@CE2?E]"k^Am

kAmu2:CG:6H %HA] !@=:46 r9:67 !9:= w@=3C@@D2:5 @77:46CD :? 9:D 56A2CE>6?E 42CCJ 3=24$:8 $2F6C A:DE@=D 2=@?8 H:E9 E96 %2D6C )a[ H9:49 :D J6==@H] pD :D E96 42D6 :? z:?8DE@?1/8 56A2CE>6?E A@=:4J 42==D 7@C E96 7:C62C> E@ 36 42CC:65 @? E96 5@>:?2?E D:56 2?5 E96 %2D6C E@ 36 42CC:65 @? E96 @AA@D:E6 D:56 @7 E96 FE:=:EJ 36=E[ 96 D2:5 3/8 k^Am

kAm(9:=6 E96 5/8 F?:4:A2= !@=:46 7/8 77:46CD' t5F42E:@? 2?5 %C2:?:?8 r@>>:DD:@? C6BF:C6D 7:C62C>D EC2:?:?8 7@C @77:46CD @?=J @?46 2 J62C[ w@=3C@@D2:5 9:D 56A2CE>6?E EC:6D E@ 86E E@ E96 8F? C2?86 EH:46 2??F2==J] %96 @77:46CD 2=D@ E22 3/8 tG6CJE9:?8 H6 5@ H:E9 E96 EC2:?:?8 :D E@ ECJ E@ 6=:>:?2E6 2?J EJA6 @7 4@?7FD:@?3/8"k^Am

Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2058