Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 5, 2000

Officers will
aim to disable
Two Minneapolis police sergeants demonstrated
the department's new nonlethal laser guns, which
fre two probes attached to wirestllardeliver a dis·

abling shock.
The guns will be carried by each of the 25
officers whO completed training Friday for a crisis Intervention team. They will intervene with mentally ill
people to deal with them safety.

Sgt Steve WiCkelgren, whO is 5 feet 9 inches
tatl and weighs 250 pounds. immediately fell to the
ground after being shot by Sgt. Ron Bellendier.
Wickelgren was stunned to( abOut five seconds.
but was not hln
The 4Q-hour training program focused on rec·
ognizing mental disorders and techniques to resolve crises.
The team was developed in response to the
fatal shooting by police of ttyee people with mental

illness since December 1999.
Another 25 officers will begin training in June.

Star Trlbl.lne photos by Mke Zerby

The Taser stun
guns are made to
Wok and handle
Iile a regular
fitearm. Offlcers
can fire up to 21
feet away from
the target. and
the darts can
penetrate up to
two Inches of
clothing.

The electrified
darts fired by the
Taser are attached to wires
and deliver a disabling shock.