Mass. Police Officers Using Tasers More Frequently

STOUGHTON (CBS) - Fifty thousand volts, that's how much energy is inflicted on someone who's hit with a Taser.

It's enough to render their muscles useless.

"The faster we take people into control with the least amount of injury and the most humane way, equals public support," says Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany. "What it also does is it eliminates officer injury."

Chief Shastany wanted to know just how effective the Taser was, so he became the target. The chief was rendered helpless and lowered to the ground.

In 2014, Tasers were used 1,037 times in Massachusetts, up almost 4% from the year before.

In 2013, 172 police departments had Tasers. Last year, the number had increased to 190 departments.

Law enforcement says it's an effective way to subdue a subject, without using deadly force.

"It's the last before we have to use lethal force," Chief Shastany says. "Which is not preferred."