Scott officers will be permitted to use the "stun gun," as it is also known, when dealing with an aggressive or combative individual. This is outlined in a proposed use-of-force policy being considered by the township commissioners. Elected officials have already given the go-ahead for the Tasers, with the stipulation that a use-of-force policy be adopted. That vote was expected at Tuesday evening's meeting.

There has been controversy surrounding the use of Tasers by law enforcement officers since 1998, when they were first put into use. There are no universal standards for the weapon's use, with each municipality regulating its use. It is also exempt from many of the regulations which govern police weapons as it isn't considered a firearm by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Fire-arms, Tobacco and Explosives.

A recent study by researchers at Wake Forest University found that, of almost 1,000 cases, nearly 100 percent of those being stunned by a Taser had no or mild injuries. Those statistics, though, contradict several reports of deaths from those being stunned with a Taser gun.