Oregon police use Taser on reporter. Reporter was asking for it, agrees w UOF

[MikeG]

Washington County police notes: A reporter's account of taking a Taser blast | OregonLive.com

Oregon just got cooler .

I don't know why she had burn marks though.

My upper body felt like concrete, a heavy, unmovable mass. Everything froze, tightened. My chest, back, abs. My mouth was open, but I couldn't scream.

I was getting "tased."

I stared straight ahead. And I momentarily wondered what on earth I was doing. I had actually volunteered for this.

You may ask, why? And that's a darn good question.

I took the five-second Taser zap during a Washington County Sheriff's Office citizens academy class, held on Saturday at the old Washington County Jail in Hillsboro. The class, one of 13 total classes, covered various aspects of police use of force, including deadly force and defensive tactics. It ended with an overview of Tasers.

Prior to the class, the instructors told participants that those who were interested could be tased. I was down.

I write about crime and law enforcement, so I figured it couldn't hurt (not figuratively, at least) to experience the Taser, a tool police commonly use. I believe there's value in my feeling the weapon to better understand the tools officers use while doing their jobs and the way suspected criminals feel when the probes latch into their skin and the trigger's pulled.

Plus, it makes for a good story, right?

From the beginning of class, I wanted to jump to the Tasers. I even tweeted that I sat, "patiently awaiting the Taser." It was true. But was I eager or anxious? Most likely, I was some odd combination of both.

Come tasing time, we, the students, gathered in the front of a small, carpeted room. I decided to observe a few people before I volunteered – I am a reporter, after all.

I watched as my classmates yelped, growled, grunted and twisted their bodies before gently (we had spotters) falling to the floor.

Finally, it was my turn. My hands were sweaty, and a little shaky, but I kept cool.

The instructor for the day, Deputy Kelly Degman, who's assigned to the training division, asked how long I wanted the shock to last. As another deputy taped each of the Taser's metal probes to my shoulders, Degman explained that this particular probe arrangement sends everyone into "Hulk pose," shoulders curled forward, fists pointed inward toward one another, biceps flexed.

Could I do Hulk pose in front of a group of 30 people? A bead of sweat trickled down my back.

Then, I told Degman to give me one full Taser cycle, which is five seconds. He chuckled. And that made me nervous.

"OK, tell me your name, and date of birth," Degman said.

"Rebeee...," I think is all I got out before Degman let it rip.

Pain, oddly, isn't the right way to describe the sensation. It feels confusing, almost disorienting. I couldn't pinpoint how I felt, and that was annoying. Really, it's more shocking than anything – and yes, sadly, that pun is intended.

My back was arched, but I can't tell you what the rest of my upper body was doing. I think I was in Hulk pose. Maybe?

I instinctively walked forward. I took slow, heavy steps. It felt as if 50-pound weights were strapped to each of my legs. But, as I remember, I continued on, my mouth open, releasing a silent scream.

In many ways, the five seconds felt like five minutes. But immediately after the shock ended, I broke into a fit of laughter, and couldn't stop.

I also smelled like fire.

"You stink," said Sgt. Daniel Cardinal, one of the class instructors. Cardinal proceeded to examine the back of my T-shirt to ensure it wasn't smoking.

Surprisingly, I felt normal. My shoulders relaxed. The place where the probes were attached slightly stung, but that was it. At home, I discovered three burn marks on my shoulders, little eraser- and dime-sized bumps, with pits in the middle.

The burns, which are now scabbing over, sting more today.

I'm here to tell you, the Taser certainly is something you won't soon forget. And you may even have some small scars to help you remember.

Some departments don't let their officers take the ride. Kinda cool to find a department let Citizens academy take it. Kind of refreshing in this day and age.

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I don't know why she had burn marks though.

Moisture in the form of sweat + TASER probes not penetrating the skin can = electrical burns.

[retdetsgt]

She's not a regular reporter, more of a correspondent or part time. There are a number with that paper that I'd love to hook up to a taser......

[cntryboy0531]

She's not a regular reporter, more of a correspondent or part time. There are a number with that paper that I'd love to hook up to a taser......

So, we had the same thoughts then. I wouldn't mind hooking up a few to a malfunctioning taser that lets them ride until the battery dies...

[michiganstud]

I was all excited, I thought someone finally tased a jerk off *** clown reporter

[pafindr]

I write about crime and law enforcement, so I figured it couldn't hurt (not figuratively, at least) to experience the Taser, a tool police commonly use. I believe there's value in my feeling the weapon to better understand the tools officers use while doing their jobs and the way suspected criminals feel when the probes latch into their skin and the trigger's pulled.

So is she going to get shot too?

[retdetsgt]

The news media has always targeted my department as far back as I go. A neighboring S.O. has had one of their own people arrested for assaulting an inmate, one was actually doing armed robberies of drug stores, two or three times a year it seems one of their officers does something outrageous and it's always a back story. They kiss the butt of the S.O. in the our county like there is no tomorrow. There has been no criticism at all of them on the Kyron Hormon case (the missing little boy that hit the national news) and you can bet they would be all over us if it were our case. The sheriff tried his best to kiss it off to us, unsuccessfully since nothing happened in the city. It was pitiful because anyone experienced in LE can tell he's way over his head.

One of our guys can get a parking ticket in a police car (seriously) and it's front page news for several days. Attacking us has always been a media pastime in this area. I have little or no use for them, but especially the print media. The Oregonian Newspaper is horrible.

[retdetsgt]

So is she going to get shot too?

Or beaten with a night stick? I'd volunteer to do that for them too.

[BJJVad]

I was all excited, I thought someone finally tased a jerk off *** clown reporter

^ this..

[Kimble]

I was all excited, I thought someone finally tased a jerk off *** clown reporter

Folks, don't tease or get michiganstud's hopes up... he's a fragile guy.

[MikeG]

Moisture in the form of sweat + TASER probes not penetrating the skin can = electrical burns.

Is it common when they tape the probes on? I figured that arcing would burn but I thought arcing would only occur if there was a small gap between the skin and probe and it was forming the conduction column in the air gap (like the channel it forms during the spark test). I was wondering if the purposely taped it on the outside of a thin shirt .

[Sgt. Slaughter]

Sarge has never been a party to probe-taping, only cartridge deployments. Arcing will occur with a gap between the skin and probe, most likely causing the burn. Not sure what she was wearing, but if they just tried to reach in the collar of her shirt to tape the probes, they most likely did a sheatty job. Again, if she was moist (giggitty) the tape wouldn't stick very well.

[SANE-A30]

I was all excited, I thought someone finally tased a jerk off *** clown reporter

I thought the same thing until after reading the article, sadly I used to want to be a reporter until I learned what jerks they are, I took Three years of journalism in school...

So is she going to get shot too?

what a dummy for volunteeering but I have to give her kudos for it too I could'nt stand there and let someone purposely tase me...

[sparrow803]

There shoud be a lottery/raffle - something like that nationwide with all the funds going to something worthwhile like healthcare for kids - and the prize is tase your least favorite politician. Guarantee you there would be an enormous response. AND - this budget thing would be resolved quickly.

Uh Oh...I've said too much again...black suits coming up the sidewalk. better go...

[limeade]

I had pretty good burn marks on me when I took the ride. I would prefer to be tasered in lieu of a punch in the face any day, it's really not that bad and the pain stops immediately.