Multiple Taser deployments were ineffective in stopping Pamela Cisneros, 49, during a four-minute standoff in Times Square on a recent Monday, after she allegedly stabbed two people, killing one. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated that the suspect continued to advance toward officers with knives even as Tasers were deployed.
During the confrontation, Cisneros reportedly stated, "I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you." Two officers then discharged their firearms, striking Cisneros, who was later pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. The incident has raised questions about why Tasers sometimes fail to incapacitate suspects.
According to Axon, the manufacturer, a standard Taser fires two barbed probes connected by wires. For neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI), the probes ideally make contact 12 inches or more apart. Officers are trained to aim for large muscle masses like the back and thighs to achieve this.
Factors contributing to Taser failure include clothing, probe placement, substance abuse, and connectivity between probes. Steve Keller, a retired police sergeant, noted that a significant layer of body fat could interfere with the electrical conductivity between the probes, potentially reducing the Taser's effectiveness. He explained that if one probe misses or fails to establish a connection due to body fat or clothing, the device will not work as intended.
"The same could be considered if there is a large layer of body fat — they could still feel it, but it might not be as effective," Keller said. He also highlighted that mental health can play a role in a person's response to a Taser. Tisch confirmed that Cisneros had a documented mental health history with the NYPD.
Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, agreed that body composition can impact Taser effectiveness. "Tasers are much more effective for muscle than fat because muscle conducts electricity much better, and the Taser delivers a high voltage," Siegel stated. "In an obese person, it is more difficult to find an area that conducts electricity."