FAYETTEVILLE, W.V. (LOOTPRESS) – On Wednesday, May 26, members from various Fayette County law enforcement departments met at the Fayetteville Police Department to receive taser recertification and certification.
Out of nearly 25 participants, five were being certified for the first time, two of which are headed to the 10-week police academy on Monday.
Participants were officers with the Fayette County Police Department, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, the Oak Hill Police Department and the Ansted Police Department.
Fayette County Chief Deputy Rod Perdue explained that the training keeps deputies up to date on how to use this particular tool in their repertoire.
“The taser is an addition to what we wear on our belt every day as a nonlethal tool that we use,” Perdue said. “Every so often we have to be recertified in any type of tools that we use in our line of work.”
Perdue says other certifiable tools include firearms, batons and camera operations.
“It is important, and the reason it’s important is because we have annual in-service that we have to do every year to actually keep our certification as law enforcement officers in the state up to par. We train on these things because we go out in the field and utilize the tool every day. If we aren’t certified there are some problems.”
“From a legal standpoint and a liability standpoint, we want to be up to date and want them to know the ins and outs of every tool on their belt. We don’t just hand someone a weapon and say here you go,” explained Andrew Hudson, a corporal with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and taser instructor.
According to Hudson, who oversaw Wednesday’s training, the seven-hour course covered when and when not to use a taser, where to shoot, how to remove the probes, and other safety measures.
The training also included instructional videos and an overview of the history and science behind tasers. Perdue says the courses are constantly being adapted to include new laws and data, educating officers as new regulations arise.
Wednesday’s training highlighted Version 22 of Axon’s Taser Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) course.
Following the training and subsequent knowledge test, the five individuals who were getting certified for the first time concluded their training by being tased by Hudson. Being tased is not required by Axon but may be required by individual departments to receive certification.
Perdue says his department is fortunate as they have numerous instructors in different types of fields. Other certification courses within the department include search warrant classes and interview and interrogation classes.
