Lake Mead NRA began an electronic control weapon (ECW’s, also known as tasers) program in October, 2006, and all Lake Mead rangers are now issued, trained, and required to carry tasers. Rangers utilized tasers 32 times in 2007, including six incidents in which they were fired. On most occasions rangers gained compliance from violent suspects when they simply displayed their tasers. Most recently, on December 23rd, a violent suspect who was under the influence of drugs and alcohol was taken into custody after being incapacitated by a taser.
The park also implemented a use of force reporting system that tracks all uses of force. Before the introduction of tasers, rangers employed firearms on 75% of use of force incidents; since the introduction of tasers, use of firearms has been reduced by 20% (in 2007, rangers had to use force on 85 occasions).
The taser has proved to be a very effective law enforcement tool. For additional information about the park’s program or its use of force reporting system, contact supervisory park ranger Kenny Clarke at 702-293-8863.
