What can potentially distract an officer leading to excessive CEW exposures?

The presence of nearby witnesses or family members can create a significant distraction for an officer during a critical incident. When individuals in close proximity are emotionally involved, such as family members or bystanders witnessing an event, their vocal reactions or emotional pleas can divert the officer's attention from the situation at hand. This distraction can lead to a lapse in judgment or an increase in stress, which might contribute to excessive uses of a Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) like the Taser 7. High-stress environments often require officers to maintain focus and composure, and external factors like bystanders can complicate this, potentially leading to multiple CEW deployments.

In contrast, the presence of body cameras typically encourages accountability and carefulness in an officer's actions, rather than distraction. Clear weather conditions do not inherently affect an officer's focus on a situation, nor do routine uniform inspections impact decision-making during active response situations. Overall, the emotional dynamics introduced by nearby onlookers are critical considerations in training for maintaining control and effective decision-making in high-pressure scenarios.