The New York Police Department announced that the newer, lighter Taser stun guns will become standard equipment on NYPD's officer's belts. The order takes effect on Wednesday. The NYPD has used Tasers since 1984, but policy called for sergeants to store the stun guns in their trunks while patrolling, due to their cumbersome size, rather than carrying the weapons in their belt holster.

Around 3,500 uniformed sergeants and other supervisors on patrol duty will be issued the new Taser Advanced M-26 model, which is only slightly bulkier than a regular handgun. Each device costs around $500.

The Taser is an electric gun used by the law enforcement agencies, especially in United States and Great Britain. It fires darts that release a 50,000 volt electric charge which temporarily paralyses the target. Invented in 1969 by Jack Cover, the Taser (an acronym for Thomas A. Swift's Electric Rifle) was largely adopted by the police forces in order to decrease the police officer and suspect injuries and deaths.

However, the Tasers were the subject of heated debates, because it was believed that their use could inflict serious injuries. Also, human rights organizations like Amnesty International consider the use of Tasers as unethical and unsafe.

Some medical experts pointed out that while used on normal subjects the Tasers can be safe, an electric shock is capable to induce some important changes in the heart rhythm or it may cause injuries to those subjects who are under certain medication. On the other hand, various reports from police departments have indicated an important decrease of deaths due to the firearms incidents after the Teasers were adopted.