Conducted energy device

Background

• Conducted Energy Device, Conducted Energy Weapon, Electronic Control Device, Electrical Control Device, and Electronic Control Weapon all refer to same thing
• Purpose of a Conducted Energy Device (CED) is to provide law enforcement officers with broader choices on use of force spectrum
• CEDs assist law enforcement officers with securing and controlling combative individuals
• Use of Force by law enforcement should be least amount necessary to accomplish objective then escalate as needed by situation
• Every other force option (impact weapons (baton), chemical weapon (pepper spray), etc.) also uses pain/discomfort for compliance and has associated risks of traumatic injury to suspect to facilitate capture, control, or restraint.
• 99.75% of time no significant injury as result of using device per Department of Justice (DOJ) study

Mechanism of Action

• Either through direct contact or with fired probes which penetrate up to 1/2 inch into body a current is delivered which causes neuromuscular interference resulting in temporary paralysis for seconds which often results in uncontrolled fall.
  • Electrical current captures skeletal muscle and tends to stay on outside of muscle
  • Immediate relief occurs after application of energy ceases.
  • Pulse has less peak current than strong static shock.
  • Less than half current allowed in use of electric fence and less current than some pain blocking stimulators.

Advantages

• CEDs reduce injuries to officers and suspects
• CEDs effective in facilitating capture, control and restraint
• CEDs are generally as safe or safer than other use of force options except deadly force
• CEDs can prevent confrontations in escalating to use of deadly force

Disadvantages

• CEDs are less accurate and reliable than a firearm
• More than trivial force but less than deadly force when used
• Uncontrolled fall associated with use of device can cause injury
• Some individuals fail to react and continue to resist (thick clothing is known to sometimes block penetration of darts)
• Probes may be dislodged when suspect is actively resisting, fleeing or engaging in excessive movement

Clinical Features

• Consider underlying reason why CEDs was used i.e. medical crisis, serious physiological distress, drug/alcohol abuse, altered mental status, combative individual
• No clinically relevant changes in ventilation, acid-base status, electrolyte concentrations, troponin I level or EKG noted

Differential Diagnosis

• Altered mental Status
• Excited delirium
• Substance abuse
• Drug or alcohol intoxication

Evaluation

• Routine history and physical examination
  • Consider history of cardiac disease
  • Consider history of pacemaker/defibrillator
  • Consider drug or alcohol intoxication, psychiatric disturbance, altered mental status
• Look for direct injury from barb and indirect injury from fall
• No need for routine performance of labs, EKGs, or prolonged observation after CED exposure in otherwise awake and alert patient
• More extensive testing and evaluation may be appropriate in individual cases based on history and physical examination i.e. EKG if chest pain, palpitations, or cardiac history

Management

• Barb removal then wound care for small puncture wound and minor burn at barb site

Disposition

• Most healthy individuals may be discharged (often to the custody of law enforcement) after barb removal
• Appropriate medical intervention/consultation if barb in vulnerable area such as mouth, eyes, neck, groin

See Also

• Conducted energy device dart removal