SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 27, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TASER International, Inc. (Nasdaq:TASR), a leading provider of technology solutions and the market leader in electronic control devices (ECDs), today announced that agents assigned to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), Office of Correctional Safety (OCS) are field testing 28 TASER(r) X26(tm) ECDs and 28 TASER CAM(tm) systems. The deployment of the TASERs is being conducted as a pilot program. Once the program has been completed, a decision will be made as to a state-wide OCS issuance.
"Officer Safety is always a top priority. Given the uncertain situations our agents find themselves in and the risk of danger, we welcome this opportunity to field test these systems in our pilot program," said Anthony Chaus, Assistant Secretary of the OCS. "The TASER X26 and the TASER CAM has the potential to keep officers safe, protect lives, reduce injuries and increase accountability. OCS agents have already successfully deployed the TASER X26. This pilot will help us determine the effectiveness of these systems in officer safety," Chaus added.
"According to the California Division of Labor Statistics and Research, there were 1,685 injuries to correctional officers in 2006," said Paul Hughes, Director of New Markets for TASER International. "We at TASER International believe that TASER X26 ECD will help protect lives and keep agents of the CDCR's OCS safe.
TASER ECDs are deployed by more than 14,000 law enforcement and military agencies in more than 45 countries around the world. The TASER X26 device has a data download capability that verifies the date, time, duration, temperature and battery status of each use of a device.
The TASER(r) CAM(tm) attaches to the handle of the TASER X26 ECD and provides additional officer accountability by capturing low light video and audio of an incident involving a TASER device.
About TASER International, Inc.
TASER International's products protect life. TASER provides advanced Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) for use in the law enforcement, medical, military, corrections, professional security, and personal protection markets. TASER devices use proprietary technology to incapacitate dangerous, combative, or high-risk subjects who pose a risk to law enforcement officers, innocent citizens, or themselves in a manner that is generally recognized as a safer alternative to other uses of force. For more information, please call TASER International at (800) 978-2737 or visit our website at www.TASER.com.
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Note to Investors
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements, without limitation, regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. We intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking information is based upon current information and expectations regarding TASER International. These estimates and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, are not guarantees of future performance, and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results could materially differ from what is expressed, implied, or forecasted in such forward-looking statements.
TASER International assumes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release. These statements are qualified by important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those reflected by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to: (1) market acceptance of our products; (2) our ability to establish and expand direct and indirect distribution channels; (3) our ability to attract and retain the endorsement of key opinion-leaders in the law enforcement community; (4) the level of product technology and price competition for our products; (5) the degree and rate of growth of the markets in which we compete and the accompanying demand for our products; (6) risks associated with rapid technological change and new product introductions; (7) competition; (8) litigation including lawsuits resulting from alleged product related injuries and death; (9) media publicity concerning allegations of deaths and injuries occurring after use of the TASER device and the negative effect this publicity could have on our sales; (10) TASER device tests and reports; (11) product quality; (12) implementation of manufacturing automation; (13) potential fluctuations in our quarterly operating results; (14) financial and budgetary constraints of prospects and customers; (15) order delays; (16) dependence upon sole and limited source suppliers; (17) negative reports concerning the TASER device; (18) fluctuations in component pricing; (19) government regulations and inquiries; (20) dependence upon key employees and our ability to retain employees; (21) execution and implementation risks of new technology; (22) ramping manufacturing production to meet demand; (23) medical and safety studies; (24) field test results; and (25) other factors detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, those factors detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Form 10-Qs.
The statements made herein are independent statements of TASER International. The inclusion of any third parties does not represent an endorsement of any TASER International products or services by any such third parties.