Staff Photo by D. Patrick Harding (br> South Pittsburg officers Trey Adams, left and Brenda Roth, right, support Times Free Press writer Todd South, as he endures a jolt from a Taser during a story on the use of the non-lethal weapon used by the South Pittsburg Police Department.

So once I told some of my fellow writers that I was going out to South Pittsburg, Tenn. to write about Tasers the first thing a few asked me was “Are you going to get Tased?”

Actually, I’ll back up.

The first person who asked me if I wanted to get “Tased” was South Pittsburg Police Chief Mark Garner.

I’d called him a few weeks ago about an incident in his town and mentioned I was interested in any new training his officers were doing.

Be careful what you ask for.

He said in that they’d shortly begin Taser training.

“Okay, good story idea, (and a great way to get out of the office),” I thought.

Then he dropped the gauntlet.

“Hey if you want you can come out and get Tased, see what it feels like,” he said over the phone.

Sure, why not.

I said gauntlet earlier, actually there wasn’t any peer pressure. Once the photographer and I got to the station Tuesday afternoon, all the officers were nice.

You could everyone was a little nervous just before they got zapped.

A few joked.

“Any last words?”

About seven officers took their share of punishment for a few long seconds, they survived.

So I said hey, I’ll do it.

I signed some paperwork and stepped onto the blue map in the station garage.

Just like everyone else an officer stood on each side of me, grabbed my wrist with one hand and gripped my arm at the armpit so I wouldn’t fall.

Right before each officer was shocked the trainer asked them how long they wanted it for. Standard shock on an assailant is about five to seven seconds.

Most of them did about two seconds or less, just a taste.

I thought I’d be fair, when he asked me I just said whatever everyone else did, “As short as possible.”

Just like dropping down a steep dive on a rollercoaster or jumping off a cliff into the water, the wait was short but nerve-wracking.

Then — boom.

The lead wires were attached to my upper back and lower back.

Before I even heard the clacking sound of 50,000 volts pounding into my body over two tiny wires my lower back exploded.

It was like someone took the end of a baseball bat and with a running start slammed the point into the small of my back. The shock rolled out to every point of my body. Each muscle strained.

And yes, I screamed.

I was shocked for less than two seconds and while I couldn’t get the words out all I could think was, “I want this to stop, I want this to stop.”

Once the brief burst was over I stood nearly staggering for a few more seconds before I felt steady.

My back muscles felt tight and I had a little tingle in my scalp during the ride back to Chattanooga.

No permanent damage.

I hope.

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