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Posted: Monday, November 26th, 2007 5:02 AM HST

Big Island police training to use Tasers

By Associated Press

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) _ Big Island police are training to use Tasers. By the end of the month, 90 percent of Kona officers should be carrying the Tasers. Hawaii County aims for all sworn personnel to eventually be trained and equipped with the devices. Tasers use compressed nitrogen to fire two barbed darts that can penetrate clothing to deliver a 50,000-volt shock to immobilize people. Deputy Police Chief Harry Kubojiri volunteered to be Tasered. He says it was like getting hit by a wild pitch, but the pain didn't linger after the five-second shock was over. The county police department ordered the Tasers in April but has held off training officers until it drafted a policy governing their use. (Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved)