Brick Police Officers Now Carrying Tasers

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township police officers now have another tool to choose from when they are faced with a potentially dangerous situation: tasers.

The department has 37 officers who have undergone hours of specialized traning on how to use the devices, also known as conducted energy devices.

That training included rules of engagement for use of force, Attorney General guidelines on deployment protocols and familiarization on how to safely and effectively deploy the device, Sgt. Jim Kelly said.

Tasers give police an option when they are faced with a situation that results in a need to apply force, Kelly said. Officers always prefer to accomplish their mission without having to resort to force, but in those situations where force may be necessary, a CED presents an alternative.

"Encounters with violent suspects are inevitable, but my hope is that now our officers will be able to safely and more quickly resolve an incident before it has a chance to escalate into a situation that results in an injury to the suspect or our officers," Police Chief James Riccio said.

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