Good to Know Video: Trooper Cadet Taser Training

(Olympia)— On any given day, in any given situation, any Washington State trooper may be confronted with an aggressive subject. Verbal de-escalation is always the goal, but is not always successful. This is why troopers are given a number of other tools to defend themselves should the need arise. One of those tools is the Taser.   

In the latest edition of our “Good to Know” series, Sergeant Shannon Bendiksen and Corporal Paul Cagle briefly describe the Taser’s function and show you some of the training trooper cadets have to endure.   

“The short time that they’re incapacitated is just what’s needed to apply the ‘cuffs, and at that point most suspects stop fighting,” Bendiksen said.

The Washington State Patrol video can be viewed here.

Trooper cadets are exposed to the effects of the Taser for three main reasons. It builds confidence in their equipment, allows them to realize the strengths and limitations of the device, and gives them practice handcuffing a subject after the Taser was fired. 

Any display or actual use of the Taser by a WSP trooper must be reported to their supervisor for review.