Lost in transition: The effects of transitioning between firearms and electronic control devices (ECDs) on perception-response times (PRTs)

Abstract

The research described in this article tested the perception-response times for experienced police officers to transition from a firearm to a TASER and from a TASER to a firearm. The theoretical models and police training on use of force have largely ignored the temporal space between force modalities. Escalating through force modalities has by default been treated as equivalent, in task and timing, to deescalating through force modalities. This study employed a randomized controlled experiment using a police firearms training simulator and 139 active law enforcement officers. The average perception-response time for transition from a TASER to a firearm was 2.49 seconds for experienced police officers in response to an anticipated visual stimulus in a laboratory setting. The average perception-response time for transition from a firearm to a TASER was 4.7 seconds for experienced police officers in a response to an anticipated visual stimulus in a laboratory setting. 70% of the officers that participated in the study had never participated in department training that required them to transition between a firearm and a TASER. The findings demonstrate that moving from TASER to firearm and from firearm to TASER are not equivalent tasks. In the case of firearms and TASERs, it is significantly faster to move up the force continuum—from TASER to firearm—than it is to move down the force continuum. This research has implications for police training, tactics, policy, research, and post hoc investigations involving the use or potential use of force.