Posted Monday --- November 12, 2007

Officer accidentally tases self during checkout procedure

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Adding insult to injury, the Madison Police department issued a letter of reprimand after an officer was injured in the hand from accidentally discharging a Taser during a standard checkout procedure.

The incident happened July 31st but was revealed in a department report dated November 1st and released Monday.

The department omitted the officer's name and gender, as it regularly does when it releases reports of officer reprimands.

According to a summary of the investigation, officers are required to make sure no air cartridges are loaded before testing the Taser gun at the start of each shift.

It's the air cartridges that propel the Taser's prongs, which deliver a jolt of electricity when they strike a target.

The report says the failure to ensure the air cartridge wasn't loaded was a violation of department policy and constituted a disregard for safety.

AP