The Taser, a registered trademark by TASER International, uses the principles of electro-muscular disruption technology to incapacitate individuals who resist arrest and/or pose a danger to officers and others. The Long Beach Police Department's (LBPD's) initial deployment of the M26 Taser was in 2002 and consisted of its assignment to field sergeants' patrol vehicles, SWAT personnel, and the advanced officer training instructors. In 2003, the LBPD purchased the X26 Taser, which was smaller than the M26 and more effective due to adjusted wattage and pulse capabilities. They were distributed to as many officers as there were Tasers available. As of 2006, approximately 900 Tasers had been issued throughout the patrol bureau, gang enforcement section, detective bureau, motor division, and SWAT. The Taser is considered a less-lethal weapon, and its deployment falls within the department's use-of-force paradigm. Currently, the LBPD has two expert lead instructors and several other qualified coinstructors. Each officer undergoes 10 hours of hands-on training when issued the weapon for field use. The Taser has become the LBPDs most frequently used weapon compared to arrest control techniques and other impact weapons. The Taser creates a 21-foot safety zone for the officer, within which he/she can gain the subject's compliance through muscular incapacitation. Among the 12 recommendations offered in this article is the creation of a searchable, computerized database to compare, cross-reference, and analyze Taser deployments within the scope of all use-of-force options. Recommendations for what to include in this database are offered. 2 notes