First Special to carry Taser in West Midlands
24 April 2024
A man who made history by becoming the first Special to carry a Taser in the West Midlands says ‘having that added layer of protection’ gives him and his family ‘peace of mind’ when he is volunteering.
Acting Special Sergeant Ryan Courtney completed the training this year, having joined as a volunteer with the police in 2020.
The father-of-one, who dedicates around 50 hours a month to the role - alongside his day job at Jaguar Land Rover - says he now ‘thinks like a Taser officer’ rather than a Special.
“I had to go through some seriously intense training but I wouldn’t be without a Taser when volunteering now,” said 32-year-old Ryan.
“I’ve not had to use it yet but it just gives that added level of protection and acts as a visible deterrent when I’m out. It undoubtedly gives both me and my family that added peace of mind.”
Acting Special Sergeant Ryan Courtney and Special Sergeant Craig Hume.
The opportunity for Ryan came after the rules changed in 2022, allowing Specials to join the Federation and train to carry a Taser.
“When the rules changed I immediately put my name forward. I volunteer in an area which has high crime numbers [Stechford Response],” recalled Ryan, “and then last year, I was approved for the training.
“One of the great things was that some of the regulars I work with were on the training course too.”
Ryan said that had he been carrying a Taser in the past, he would have felt more protected - especially when put in vulnerable situations.
He remembered: “I was called to one job that involved a stabbing. When we arrived at the address, the named suspect was present. He was irate and I managed to tackle him to the floor - at which point he pulled out a zombie knife.
“If I had been carrying a Taser - I’m not saying I would have used it - but it might have acted as an additional barrier between me and him.
“In that instance, I got lucky but in any other circumstance, he could have used that knife on me.”
Ryan said he would not have it any other way now.
“I feel weird if I don’t have my Taser on me when volunteering,” continued Ryan, who said it is ‘an honour’ to have made history as the first Special in the West Midlands to carry a Taser.
Since he completed training, more Specials have been trained to carry a Taser, with Ryan saying that the move also frees up time for regular officers.
“For the first time ever, Taser-trained Specials were able to work at the football [12 April]. This freed up time for cops, meaning more police on the streets.”
Ryan, who is also hoping to complete public order and blue light training, says being a Special allows him to ‘get the best of both worlds’.
“I remember there being a car crash outside my home - it was around 2018 or 2019. I supported the officers then, and I said to one of the officers working ‘I’m thinking about becoming a Special’, and she said ‘why wouldn’t you?’,” said Ryan.
“I don’t know why, but being a Special satisfies something within. It’s fulfilling a passion, and I get to build my career at the same time.”
Branch chair Rich Cooke has actively campaigned for all frontline Federation members to carry a Taser, if they want it, and says that Specials should be no exception.
“Fundamentally, not one of our members - whether they are regulars or volunteers – should be sent out on the streets, without the option of carrying a Taser as a minimum protective measure,” he said.
“Carrying a Taser offers officers and Specials another tool to protect themselves. In the absence of routinely armed officers, it is the bare basics.
"As we saw in Australia recently, policing can be so unpredictable, incidents happen dynamically and it is virtually always unarmed officers who are first on the scene and expected to tackle the danger. The fact not all, or even a majority, are offered Taser in the UK is a continuing disgrace in my view.
“We hear, we see cops and Specials being put in vulnerable situations on a regular basis, they take the same risks in order to protect the public - the minimum they should have is a Taser at hand, too, if they want it.
“I very much welcome the change of rules which now allow Specials to carry Tasers. I hope that we will see many more follow in Ryan’s footsteps.”
