GPD officers get taser certification training

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - A number of Guam Police Department officers will be armed with tasers, providing them with a less than lethal option to deal with non-compliant individuals they encounter.  Several dozen GPD officers as well as a probation officer and a superior court marshal underwent training and were certified to operate the tasers. 

GPD spokesperson Officer A.J. Balajadia says those who are certified will have the tasers to use beginning on New Year's Eve, telling KUAM News, "Non-compliance with the officers instructions may result in them being tasered. Tasers are a very effective tool for law enforcement and will take a grown man down to the ground. The officers will give some warnings and if the individual doesn't comply, then they will probably be tased."

This is the first time officers with the Guam Police Department have ever trained on or deployed the tasers.  The devices will go to the four precincts as well as the Highway Patrol Division and the Special Operations Division.  GPD hopes to get every officer trained on the device that totally incapacitates an individual's muscles.