NORFOLK -- Police are finding tasers are very effective and even the sight of one can help bring a suspect into custody.

Norfolk Police have been carrying tasers for about six weeks, and officials say when many suspects see the yellow device on officers' belts, they are quick to surrender.

Police say the taser's reputation keeps officers from actually having to fire them. They say, so far, officers have drawn their tasers nearly 70 times and only had to deploy them 20 times.

"Word spreads very quickly," said Chris Amos, spokesman for the Norfolk Police Department. "You do not want ot mess with this."

Video: Tasers aid Norfolk Police officers

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Recent video from a camera mounted on a taser shows how one suspect who spotted the yellow weapon was quick to cooperate.

"They already have a reputation," said Amos. "The word out on the street and among the officers is that it's invaluable."

Norfolk Police say it will take about six months to gather complete information on the impact of the tasers, but they hope it will follow the trend set in other cities.

"The assaults on officers are greatly reduced where tasers are introduced," said Amos. "The injuries to suspects are greatly reduced when tasers are introduced."

Even though tasers won't replace guns for very dangerous situations, officers say they're another tool, like pepper spray and nightsticks, to help them handle anything they may face out on the streets.

"This will help make a hard, hard job a little bit easier."

So far, police say there haven't been any formal complaints about officers using the tasers inappropriately, and there have not been any injuries from them.