"We have not had to go hands-on with a suspect since we issued the Tasers," said Santaquin Police Chief Dennis Howard. "(They) de-escalate a situation immediately." Santaquin began equipping its officers in 2002.

The weapon is most effective within 7 to 15 feet. Less than 7 feet and the barbs don't spread as far and the muscle-freezing nature of the tool is limited. Thick clothing will also prevent a good connection.

However, even after the barbs have been deployed, an officer can still "drive stun" a suspect — pushing the weapon into a muscle for the same type of shock.

But before an officer ever pulls it off his or her belt, they have to attend classes, learn about appropriate use of force and experience a Taser themselves.

Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Randall, a county Taser and use-of-force instructor, emphasized repeatedly to his class the importance of a U.S. Supreme Court case — Graham v. Connor — that has defined "use of force" for officers.

Officers responding to a situation must ask: Is there a threat? Is this person resisting or feeling? What is the offense? And what are the exigent circumstances?

If someone has pummeled his neighbor, refused to cooperate with police and is trying to flee, there's little need to shoot him with a gun, but he does need to be stopped. A Taser may be the right tool.

However, Randall reminded his class not to become Taser-dependent.

"There's a guy with a knife who has just stabbed a kid," Randall said as an example. "The first thing out of your holster had better be a gun."

But like any other police tool, the Taser has a time and a place.

"I could teach a monkey to pull out a Taser," Randall said. "The issue is when we use it, do we use it appropriately."

Recording and reporting

Each time a Taser is deployed, it shoots out tiny confetti paper circles with minuscule serial numbers on them. Those are gathered at each scene, along with the cartridge, and booked into evidence to document whose Taser was used and how many Tasers were used.

The officer also takes pictures of the puncture sites and calls for medical attention, Randall said.

Each deployment is documented in the police report, as well as all verbal pre-warnings before Taser use.

"So far, in every case, I've never had occasion to question (an officer's) judgment," Caron said. "In reading the report, talking to the officers there, the Taser was appropriate."