Metropolitan Region Governor Claudio Orrego announced a 250 million peso pilot program this Monday to introduce Electronic Temporary Immobilization Devices (DEIT), commonly known as Tasers, to the Carabineros.
Funded by the Santiago Government through the National Fund for Regional Development (FNDR), the initiative involves the purchase of approximately 60 devices. The project aims to bolster police operational capacity in high-risk scenarios, such as domestic violence incidents and managing illegal street vending.
According to the Governor, these devices emit low-intensity electric pulses—similar to electric livestock fencing—that cause temporary immobilization for approximately five seconds. The plan will be evaluated over a 10-month period.
Criticism of central government management and implementation timelines
During the announcement, Orrego criticized the current administration of Gabriel Boric, claiming that the failure to implement such measures previously was due to a lack of political will. "For many years, we saw talk about these devices, but there was no political will to move them forward," the Governor stated.
The regional leader questioned why this technology, which is used in over 100 countries, had not yet been adopted in Chile. "Why have 100 countries around the world used these devices for years, yet Chile still hasn't? To me, it is incomprehensible, and I can sum it up in one word or phrase: there was no political will to implement it," he argued.
Orrego also dismissed previous arguments regarding a lack of training for using the weapons. "The main excuse at the time was that they couldn't be used because there was no training. I insist, it was an excuse, because today we are not only purchasing these devices, but we are also going to train the officers who will use them," he added.
Inspector General Manuel Cifuentes, Metropolitan Zone Chief, backed the measure. "This will allow us to temporarily immobilize potential aggressors in cases of active attacks against Carabineros. We are very interested in incorporating these technologies into the institution's arsenal to provide an intermediate-range option that allows us to avoid the use of lethal weapons," the officer noted.
The implementation process will be conducted through a public tender. According to the institution, the devices are expected to be operational within three to four months.
The Governor concluded that the measure seeks to modernize police response with a more responsible approach. "The Santiago Government is taking a concrete step toward changing how we approach security: we are investing $250 million in less-lethal technology for the Carabineros, allowing for the management of high-risk situations without endangering lives," he concluded.
