Saline County Officers Use Shocking New Weapon

Law officers trying to arrest unruly suspects have a stunning new weapon to use. The Saline County Sheriff`s Department purchased six new tasers to help apprehend those suspects without anyone receiving much of an injury. And deputies in the Saline County Sheriff`s Department are learning by experience. "A mile electrical shock, but your muscles contract and you can`t move. Absolutely nothing you could do," says Sgt. Scottie Courtney, shortly after being hit by a taser. The tasers will come in handy when tensions get high on the job and the suspect isn`t cooperating. Sheriff Phil Mask took note of an incident in Ohio, where six police officers had to bring down a large suspect on drugs. "The chief of police in the city said basically that if they had tasers the death would`ve been less likely," said Sheriff Phil Mask. The tasers deploy 21 feet of wire with probes on the end. Those probes deliver just a fraction of a watt, still enough to knock down a bull and especially a 200 pound officer. Sheriff Mask says the tazers will help reduce the likelihood of either officers or suspects getting injured if there`s a struggle. "We`ve had barricaded suspects in the house and usually when my special response team goes in the house, most of the time, they`re very combative," Mask said. "Bruises black eyes, where if we get into a struggle with a suspect those things happen on us and the suspect," says Sgt. Courtney. Each taser costs $1500. Saline County funded part of them and a grant paid for the rest. Mask says he`s applying for another grant to purchase more.