In 2019, a Taiwanese railway police officer was stabbed to death over a ticketing dispute. The incident prompted Taiwan’s police force to buy more than 4,500 tasers to help protect personnel in the line of duty. But three years later, the tasers have seen little use.
Pull the trigger and hold for five seconds. This is a taser. A non-lethal electroshock weapon that’s meant to incapacitate. They can be used up close or shot from a distance.
In 2019, a 24-year-old railway police officer was stabbed to death while trying to mediate a ticketing dispute. In the wake of his death, Taiwan’s police agency bought more than 4,500 tasers, believing they could better keep on-duty police safe.
But statistics show that officers aren’t using them. Over the past three years, police have fired tasers in fewer than 10 arrests.
One anonymous officer says that police already have to carry a lot of equipment, including guns, ammunition and radios. Even without a taser, that’s a lot to keep track of.
Another problem is training. Some officers say they lack the knowhow to operate the weapon.
Then there’s the matter of unknowingly using tasers on pregnant women or people with heart conditions. That could have fatal consequences.
Last month, two police officers were murdered while on duty in Tainan. Now, police in the southern city want to buy even more tasers. The National Police Agency says from now on, it will put more focus on training officers on how to use the weapons safely and effectively.
While the jury is still out on whether or not they’re a useful tool for Taiwan’s police, authorities seem to think with just a little bit of preparation and a bit more familiarity, tasers can help keep police safe as they carry out their job.