CPD holds Taser training, details benefits of new stun guns for department

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department says its new stun guns can improve the safety for police officers and the public.

On Monday morning, CPD held a training session at the Molly Bowden Neighborhood Policing Center to train a group of four officers and two volunteers.

The training consisted of officers firing off their stun guns at targets, as well as put officers through scenarios designed to help them decide whether or not using their weapon is appropriate.

According to Lt. Scott Alpers, the department made the switch from the "Taser X2" to the "Taser 10" in February, after some of its old ones began to fail.

Alpers said one of the features of the new stun gun allows officers to defend themselves from a further distance away, and reduces the chance of an officer having to use deadly force.

"If you have somebody that is 30 feet away from you and they're exhibiting some sort of behavior or action that could potentially be deadly...we now have the ability to to be that distance away and potentially stop that threat, whether it be a potential serious physical injury or death," Alpers said.

The Tasers will cost the department about $600,000 over five years, according to Alpers.

The new stun guns feature technology such as a warning system that shines a bright light and sounds off an alarm.

Some features also include a laser that can give police a more accurate shot-- allows the Taser to hold up to 10 cartridges, as opposed to two which gives officers more chances to get a person to comply -- and automatically turns on an officer's body camera as soon as the Taser is taken out of its holster.

According to Alpers, that feature can improve the safety for officers.

"What we've seen is some officers have taken focus off of the event that's happening and they're.. they're even looking down and turning their camera on, which takes that focus off of what, what prompted all that to begin with," Alpers said.

Alpers also noted the department utilizes a website that allows them to reference the amount of times an officer uses their taser.

Data from the City of Columbia shows CPD fired off Tasers 34 times in 2022.