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discharged against a person. <br />309.4.7 DEFENSE AGAINST TASER <br />If a person armed with a Taser or similar device uses or threatens to use the device against an <br />officer, the officer or another officer may use reasonable force to defend the officer in order to avoid <br />becoming incapacitated and risking the possibility that the person could gain control of the <br />incapacitated officer’s firearm and/or seriously injure the incapacitated officer or another person. <br />309.4.8 USE WITH ANIMALS <br />The Taser may be discharged to defend against an aggressive animal which poses a threat to the <br />officer, another person, a police service dog, or an assistance animal as defined in ORS 346.680, <br />or which is attacking another animal. <br />309.5AFTERCARE <br />EMS will be summoned to examine individuals who have been subjected to the electric discharge of <br />a Taser and/or struck by Taser probes. <br />Persons suspected of being under the influence of drugs/alcohol or who exhibit extreme agitation, <br />violent irrational behavior accompanied by profuse sweating, extraordinary strength beyond <br />physical characteristics, unusually high tolerance to pain (sometimes called excited delirium) or who <br />require a protracted physical encounter with multiple officers to bring under control may be at an <br />increased risk of sudden death and should be examined by qualified medical personnel as soon as <br />practicable. <br />Because the Taser can cause neuromuscular incapacitation, officers should also be aware of the <br />possibility of injuries due to falls, or from sudden or excessive muscular tension. <br />Officers who are trained to do so may remove the metal probes from a person struck with the Taser <br />probes. If a person requests that the probes be removed by a medical professional, the person’s <br />request will be honored by having the removal done by EMS personnel or another medical <br />professional unless removal of one or more of the probes prior to arrival of EMS personnel is clearly <br />necessary. If a person is struck with the probes in a sensitive area, the probes should be removed <br />by a medical professional. <br />Following use of a Taser, officers should use a restraint technique which does not impair <br />respiration. <br />Any person who has been subjected to the electric discharge of a Taser and/or struck by Taser <br />probes will be medically assessed prior to being booked at a correctional facility. Prior to <br />transitioning custody of a person who has received a Taser discharge to a correctional facility, <br />hospital, or other facility, officers should advise the appropriate receiving party of the Taser <br />discharge and any aftercare provided. <br />309.6 ACTIONS FOLLOWING TASER DISCHARGE <br />If the Taser probes have contacted the person’s skin, or if the Taser has been used in drive stun <br />mode against the person’s skin, take color photographs of the locations where the device was <br />applied, as well as any other injuries related to the incident. Consent should be obtained before <br />photographing personally sensitive areas. If a person does not consent to photographs of a <br />Police Commission Recommendations – Taser Guidelines, Redlined Draft April 8, 2010 <br />Page 6 <br /> <br />