Why weren pepper spray and expandable batons (DPS officers weapons) enough?
We don’t see a lot of violent crime on campus, but we are seeing an increase in reported incidents involving hostile or threatening behavior. We want to take a proactive role in those cases to minimize injury or threats to anyone. You also have to remember that ISU is not a closed community. Not all the people our officers encounter are Iowa State students or necessarily concerned about a safe campus community. Why Taser weapons? A: We looked into other weapons, for example, a beanbag gun or rifle, a gun that fires rubber pellets, but this (Taser) is the weapon that met or surpassed the criteria we set for ourselves. Those criteria were: instant “stopping power” of most subjects; by design, shouldn’t cause serious or permanent injury; provides optimal distance between an officer and a dangerous person (thus maximizing officer’s safety); can be carried on an officer’s belt. What are some of these safeguards? A: • For one, a safety mechanism must be turned off before an officer fires the
