Metropolitan Region Governor Claudio Orrego announced on Monday in the Estación Central district an investment of $250 million for the purchase of Temporary Electronic Immobilization Devices (DEIT), commonly known as Tasers. The measure aims to provide the Carabineros police force with an intermediate deterrent tool for managing high-risk situations.
The pilot program, which will run for an initial 10 months, will allow for the purchase of approximately 60 devices. At the end of this period, authorities will conduct a technical evaluation to determine whether to continue the investment and potentially expand the program.
The implementation of this equipment has faced various administrative hurdles since the middle of last year. With the recent approval of usage protocols, Governor Orrego intends to clear the way for the uniformed police to add this technology to their operational arsenal.
“As the Santiago regional government, we have been publicly calling for our police to be equipped with these devices for about five years,” Orrego stated. The governor emphasized that the tool will help reduce assaults on police personnel without the need to resort to firearms, thereby avoiding fatal outcomes.
Application in Street Vending Enforcement
Although the original Carabineros protocol did not restrict use to a specific type of procedure, there were questions regarding their actual deployment on the streets. In this regard, the governor clarified that these weapons will be fundamental in maintaining public order, especially given the rise in violence associated with street vending.
“The highest number of assaults on Carabineros we have seen recently have occurred precisely during operations to clear street vendors,” the regional authority noted. According to the plan, the use of Tasers will be authorized in cases of “Active Aggression,” defined as situations where a subject attempts to strike an officer or violently resists arrest.
The Carabineros protocol establishes strict restrictions on the use of these devices. It explicitly prohibits aiming at vital areas, such as the eyes or genitals, and limits electrical discharge to a maximum of five seconds. Furthermore, direct skin contact and multiple activations against the same individual are prohibited.
The Regional Government highlighted that its total investment in security during the current administration exceeds $194 billion. Of that total, more than $15 billion has been allocated directly to strengthening the operational capacity of the Carabineros, including the purchase of vehicles, a helicopter, and specialized equipment.
Orrego defended the effectiveness of this technology by citing international experience. According to the governor, the use of Tasers has reduced physical assaults against police officers by 40% to 50%, while also significantly decreasing complaints regarding excessive use of force by serving as a visual deterrent to potential aggressors.
