SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAINING BULLETIN
TO: All Sworn Personnel

FROM: Robert L. Davis
Chief of Police
DATE: September 5, 2006

SUBJECT: TASER Trademark

BULLETIN NO:
During a recent robbery investigation, a suspect was arrested for using an electrical stun type weapon.
Although the specific manufacturer of the device was unknown, the weapon was incorrectly referred
to as a “TASER” weapon. The weapon used by the suspect was a generic contact stun gun, which
delivers a painful shock and not a product that is manufactured by TASER International.
Officers should remember that TASER is a trademark of TASER International, Inc. In order to
comply with trademark laws and to avoid unnecessary confusion, officers should only refer to the
name TASER if they are certain the weapon used was manufactured by TASER International.
In cases where officers are unsure of the specific manufacturer of the electrical weapon, officers
should refer to the device as an “electrical stun weapon” or “electrical stun device.”

Robert L. Davis
Chief of Police
RLD:EF