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PARALAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Reintroduction of Taser Whitelist
The Office of the Chiefs of Department in conjunction with the Review Board and Senior Management Team have made the decision to reintroduce the Taser Whitelist. This will significantly change the way in which tasers will be administered as well as provide scalable opportunities in other areas of the Department.
What is the Taser Whitelist?
The Taser Whitelist is the new alternative for colleagues to receive a taser. Traditionally, the taser has been a rank requirement where colleagues needed to be Senior Officer or above to receive a taser. There was also no true and comprehensive mechanism for simply removing a taser from someone for misuse. The Taser Whitelist will completely replace the rank requirement.
Who is eligible to become taser certified?
Everyone. There is no longer a requirement where someone must be Senior Officer or above to apply for taser certification and regular Officers can now also apply to become Taser Certified.
How will the process work?
There will be a new section under the ‘Careers’ page of PLPD.online called ‘Taser Whitelist’. There are three stages:
- Stage 1 - a baseline competency test which is multiple-choice. This requires full marks to be able to progress.
- Stage 2 - a practical assessment administered using the new Training System by the Patrol Command and Patrol Trainers. If you pass Stage 1, you will shortly thereafter be contacted by Patrol Command to arrange a suitable date for the assessment.
- Stage 3 - a review which is conducted solely by the Patrol Command. This will consist of background/record checks to look for previous taser misuse, as well as any other reasons as to why someone may not be suitable to be given taser certification.
I already have access to a taser due to my rank. Will I have to go through this new process?
Yes, unless you are a current Staff Sergeant or above. If you currently have access to a taser you will need to go through this new process, or you will lose access to your taser. If you do not currently have taser access, you will also have to go through this new process.
Will there be a “Grace Period” for colleagues who currently have a taser?
There will be a 4-week “Grace Period” for all current taser users to become certified. This means that you can continue to use a taser until 26th December. After this date, if you have not become certified under the new whitelist system then your access to the taser will be revoked and you will have to go through the new system at a later date which is convenient for you.
Once I am certified, will I need to do any refresher training or become re-certified on a regular basis?
No, once you are certified you have access to a taser. There is no mandatory requirement for re-certification or refresher courses on a regular basis, however you can optionally ask for this if you feel that it would be beneficial for you.
What do you mean by “scalable opportunities in other areas”?
The introduction of taser certification means that in conjunction with the Senior Management Team, other divisions can make taser certification a requirement to apply. An example of this might be Tactical Firearms, or for command recruitment.
What is the process for taser certification being revoked?
You may have your taser certification revoked for misuse of the taser. This can be recommended by the Complaints Committee or by your Command Team, or wherever else if referred by a supervisor. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in a General Operations meeting where all incumbent command members will vote on whether they believe your taser certification should be revoked and if the motion is carried, you will need to go through the system again.
Final Summary
Yes, unless you are a current Staff Sergeant or above. If you currently have access to a taser you will need to go through this new process, or you will lose access to your taser. If you do not currently have taser access, you will also have to go through this new process.
Will there be a “Grace Period” for colleagues who currently have a taser?
There will be a 4-week “Grace Period” for all current taser users to become certified. This means that you can continue to use a taser until 26th December. After this date, if you have not become certified under the new whitelist system then your access to the taser will be revoked and you will have to go through the new system at a later date which is convenient for you.
Once I am certified, will I need to do any refresher training or become re-certified on a regular basis?
No, once you are certified you have access to a taser. There is no mandatory requirement for re-certification or refresher courses on a regular basis, however you can optionally ask for this if you feel that it would be beneficial for you.
What do you mean by “scalable opportunities in other areas”?
The introduction of taser certification means that in conjunction with the Senior Management Team, other divisions can make taser certification a requirement to apply. An example of this might be Tactical Firearms, or for command recruitment.
What is the process for taser certification being revoked?
You may have your taser certification revoked for misuse of the taser. This can be recommended by the Complaints Committee or by your Command Team, or wherever else if referred by a supervisor. This will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in a General Operations meeting where all incumbent command members will vote on whether they believe your taser certification should be revoked and if the motion is carried, you will need to go through the system again.
Final Summary
- Everyone apart from current Staff Sergeants and above will need to go through the new system before the 26th December or their access to the taser will be revoked.
- The system is a 3-stage process which consists of a competency test, a practical assessment, and a background check.
- Officers can now apply to become taser certified as there is no longer a rank requirement.
- Taser certification will be revoked where deemed necessary by way of a General Operations meeting.
Kind regards,
Office of the Chiefs of Department
and
Senior Management Team
