The San Diego City Council Tuesday approved an agreement allowing for the San Diego Police Department to upgrade to the latest Taser weapon, scheduled to roll out this fall.
The five-year agreement with Axon allows the department to purchase Tasers for around 1,860 sworn officers. The first year of the agreement is anticipated to cost $1.95 million for purchase and training associated with rolling out the new device, and the total cost of the five-year agreement will not exceed $9.75 million.
The Taser 10 by Axon Enterprise is intended to work by inducing neuromuscular incapacitation to “alter subject mobility,” according to the company.
“Our officers deserve the best equipment to enable them to protect this city,” Police Chief David Nisleit said. “The Taser 10 design is a game-changer and will make the Taser more effective when used in situations that warrant less-lethal force.”
According to the city, SDPD officers currently carry the X-26P model Taser, which has a range of 21 feet. When the X-26P is fired, two probes fire at the same time at different angles. To be effective, the probes must connect with the person and produce a charge.
The Taser 10 has 10 probes to “stop a threat without reloading” and has a range of up to 45 feet, according to the company. The first probe discharges without electrical output, while the second probe will begin the charge to achieve neuromuscular incapacitation. If the initial probes do not achieve effective NMI, subsequent probes provide additional chances to do so.
Regardless of how many probes make a connection, the new device will only deliver current to the best four connections. Additionally, the Taser 10 has a reduced voltage of 1,000 volts, compared with the previous 50,000 volts with the Taser 7.
“The development of Taser 10 was driven by Axon’s mission to provide public safety with advanced tools to protect lives,” Axon CEO and founder Rick Smith said. “The San Diego Police Department brings this mission to life with their strong commitment to advancing public safety. Taser 10 marks a major step toward a less-lethal future and is key to advancing our moonshot goal.”
“We aspire to see SDPD’s adoption of Taser 10 deliver on their dedication to reducing gun-related deaths between police and the public, ultimately protecting more lives,” Smith said.
Additionally, the Taser 10 has a built-in function to activate any body-worn cameras within 30 feet that are in buffering mode when the Taser is turned on. SDPD officers are required to leave their body cams in buffering mode while on duty, except where prohibited per department policy, according to the city.
The new technology was tested and evaluated by the SDPD for 30 days, and officials said they found it could be an effective tool to decrease officer-involved shootings.
The SDPD will join agencies that have upgraded to the new device since its launch in July 2023, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, among others.
City News Service contributed to this article.
