Prior to the purchase of the X26 Taser from Taser International, the department conducted research on the nature and use of Tasers. The research determined that pepper spray and baton strikes, the department's less-lethal weapons prior to the Taser purchase, are less effective than the Tasers in incapacitating a person without significant injury. Based on this conclusion, the department purchased Tasers for use by frontline officers. The next step was to train officers in the features and the use of the Taser. The training program lasted 8 hours and addressed not only the features and use of the Taser but also the use of lethal force, weapon retention, and cross-drawing the Taser. An important aspect of the training was having officers volunteer to be shot with the Taser in order to give them a better understanding of how it affects targeted subjects. After the training, the officers were authorized to use the Taser in the field. It was found that effective use of the Taser did not occur immediately, but rather required time for officers to become proficient in the accurate shooting of the Taser. After 2 months of use, officer proficiency improved significantly. Over 2 months of Taser use, the department experienced a 31-percent decline in complaints of excessive use of force, a 70-percent decline in officers' use of pepper spray, a 30-percent decline in prisoner injuries, and a 70-percent decline in assaults on officers. Nationwide, there is no evidence that Tasers have been the direct cause of any deaths.