#327 Be Tasered

12/07/10

Wapallo County Police Department.

As fate would have it, just as I was was putting the finishing touches on my bucket list, my work in Americorps NCCC drew me to the Wapallo county police station in Ottumwa, IA. I had been showing the members of my team my nearly completed bucket list, and they are trying to help me me complete it. Maggie may sent me a text telling me to ask Mark Miller our contact at the police station if it would be possible for them to help me complete #327 on my bucket list: Be Tasered.

Mark said he could it make it happen he would just have to clear it with his boss. We receive a phone call a couple days later saying that I have an appointment set up with the police station. #327 was soon going to be checked off.

When the time finally arrived, I was surprised to see many members of the police force show up. They were here “for the entertainment.” I learned a bit more about what was going to happen to me.

50,000 volts of electricity would pass from one cord of the taser to the other, using my body as a conduit. After hearing reports from the officers about the state of their tase victims, I was worried I might be out of commission for the rest of the day.

From the stories they told me I was sure that I would soon be screaming and writhing on the ground and that I would be laying there for quite some time. Some quick internet searches revealed some pretty unpleasant looking videos. One danger of being tased that I was not aware of before starting this endeavor was the potential of losing bladder control. As a precaution I ate lots of fiber and and drank a ton of liquids before the proceedings.

….Okay maybe not but I did use the toilet beforehand.

We were set to begin. The crowd consisted of my team, our sponsors and officers helping in the proceedings and the officers that just came there for the show. As the cameras were trained on me and the moment drew nearer, my heart began to race. Sargent Bell clipped one alligator clip to my belt and the other to my left sock. There is no backing out now.

As the countdown began, I thought that I was ready for the shock.... I definitely was not. I have never felt anything like the 50,000 volts of electricity that passed through my body. I would have to describe it as hundreds of muscle cramps wracking my body all at once, combined being jabbed with 50, one-inch long needles up and down my leg. The worst part of the whole experience is how long it went on. Those five seconds were the longest five seconds of my entire life. I remember thinking about 3 seconds in that something had been terribly screwed up. It had already been going on for way to long.

Finally the longest five seconds of my life ended. As I lay drooping in the grips of the two burly police officers, I realized that I was out of breath. My body felt like I had just been through a very strenuous workout.

Despite all this I had survived. My heart didn't give out and I felt pretty good if you take into consideration that I just had that much electricity pass through my body.

My leg was dead for the rest of the day and I passed out for sleep a few times during the day. Not as bad as I thought it could be.

So all in all, a educational and entertaining day. I can assuredly say #327 Be tasered, is completed!