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General stress response, not the TASER: reply to “Examining the effects of the TASER on cognitive functioning: findings from a pilot study with police recruits”

Journal of Experimental Criminology

Published online on

Abstract

We read with interest the study by White et al. “Examining the effects of the TASER on cognitive functioning: findings from a pilot study with police recruits.” (White et al. 2014). We have tremendous respect and admiration for Drs. White and Ready, and congratulate them on a study well done. However, we respectfully disagree with some of their discussion and conclusions, and felt obliged to offer a counter argument.

First, we disagree with their treatment of the review of the electrical injury literature. The electrical characteristics of TASER CEWs are significantly different from the residential and commercial power equipment involved in the studies cited. The average current from a TASER X26 CEW is 2 mA, less than the current that activates the typical ground faulty circuit interrupter (GFCI). We do not criticize the authors for discussing the electrical injury literature. However, we think the authors should have at least questioned the applicability to the TASER CEW. Without a mor ...