Shown above is an X26 Taser stun gun purchased by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in 2006. Lawrence police purchased 10 X26 Tasers earlier this year at 00 apiece. About 20 officers and supervisors earlier this year went through a training course to learn how to use the Tasers.

Some Lawrence police officers are now carrying a new weapon.

Earlier this year, the Lawrence Police Department purchased 10 electronic control devices called the Taser X26, at $900 each.

Tasers look like an old science fiction ray gun, but there is nothing fictional about them.

The device delivers an electronic jolt to bring down an unruly suspect. It gives officers an alternative use of force along with a gun, baton or pepper spray.

About 20 officers and supervisors earlier this year went through a training course to learn how to use Tasers. They also voluntarily experienced the shock of having one used on them as part of the training, police spokesman Sgt. Paul Fellers said.

“I understand they are quite effective,” said Fellers, who did not go through the training.

During a Lawrence City Commission meeting in January Police Chief Ron Olin said plans were to have three officers on each patrol shift carry the Tasers.

According to Taser’s Web site, www.taser.com, a Taser uses a replaceable cartridge containing compressed nitrogen to deploy two small probes attached to wires. The wires have a maximum length of 35 feet.

About two years ago some Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies began carrying Tasers. The department has declined to release information about how many times officers have used them.

Tasers have been in use by a growing number of law enforcement agencies in Kansas and across the country for several years. There have been some mishaps leading to criticism of their use. But at least some Lawrence business and neighborhood leaders say they are not concerned about police carrying them.

A police neighborhood resource officer talked at a meeting of the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods about Tasers, said Gwen Klingenberg, association president.

“The majority of the people think it is a pretty good idea as long as they are not abused,” she said.

David Johanning, co-owner of The Sandbar, 17 E. Eighth St., said he wasn’t sure whether the new weapons would make downtown safer but thinks they could be helpful for police.

“As long as the officers are trained properly and use them properly, I think it could be a good tool for them,” he said.

Both Johanning and Klingenberg noted the incident in January when a carjacking suspect crashed a stolen vehicle downtown and then held police at bay because he was armed with a pistol. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper was able to get behind the man and use a Taser on him, which resolved the incident.

“It’s my understanding they might have had to shoot the guy,” Johanning said. “It (Taser) could save lives.”