Jail workers "zapped" by Taser at Atlanta Detention Center

ATLANTA — Officials say Atlanta City Detention Center workers will all carry Tasers, and several of the employees got "zapped" during training on Thursday afternoon.

“It’s important for us to know, feel and experience what potentially someone else will be involved in,” said Chief of the Atlanta Department of Corrections.

Labat was the first in line to get hit by a Taser.

“Leading from the front,” he said. “I would not expect any of my officers to do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Forty-eight people in total will be trained.

Sgt. James Johnson described the experience to Channel 2’s Erica Byfield.

“It was one of the worst pains I’ve felt in my life,” he said.

Johnson is part of the Viper Team.  His unit is typically the first to respond to inmate issues at the detention center.  He said he could think of several incidents where having a Taser would have helped.

“The good thing about it is hopefully with a deployment of a Taser you'll have less injuries to the detainee as well as the staff …. We will use them on individuals who are not compliant," said Johnson.

The city of Atlanta spent $150,000 on the devices and training.  The jail bought 50 Tasers.

WSBTV