Tasers effective, research finds
But study by USC cautions against devices' overuse
Tasers and other stun guns have proved effective in limiting injuries to police and suspects, but law enforcement needs to guard against potential abuse by officers who overly rely on such tools, a three-year study by University of South Carolina researchers found.
The findings are included in one of the largest studies conducted into police use of force and injuries that result from stun guns, pepper spray, batons and firearms. The study, funded by a $650,000 U.S. Justice Department grant, comes at a time when more than 11,500 police agencies use Tasers to control suspects.
Geoff Alpert, a USC criminology professor and principal investigator for the study, said researchers found electrical stun devices and pepper spray clearly reduce the likelihood of injuries to officers and suspects.
But the study also found evidence of "lazy cop syndrome" in which some officers used their Tasers too quickly and too often. "Some officers are over-reliant on (stun guns) and are not putting their hands on suspects," he said.
The team's findings were based on data from a national survey of law enforcement policies and practices on the use of force, as well as statistics from police agencies in Miami; Seattle; Columbia; Austin, Texas; and Orlando, Fla. Between 2005 and 2008, researchers reviewed some 24,000 police cases and interviewed more than 250 officers and citizens.
Among other things, researchers found the rate of injuries to suspects and officers in Orlando dropped by more than half after police began using Tasers. In Austin, the rate of injuries to suspects fell 30 percent after Tasers were introduced, while the rate of officer injuries fell by a quarter.
Related story
Man sues over Taser use, published 7/8/2009
Stun guns use an electromagnetic pulse to override a person's nervous system, temporarily disabling a suspect and giving officers a brief window to cuff and control him.
A 2006 analysis by The Post and Courier found that North Charleston police fired or threatened to use their Tasers 201 times in an 18-month period.
About 230 Charleston County sheriff's deputies carry Tasers, and the stun guns have proved "an excellent device" in stopping suspects through non-lethal means, Maj. John Clark said.
Deputies are trained to use their Tasers only when necessary, such as when a suspect resists arrest, threatens an officer or tries to escape. The Sheriff's Office tracks and reviews Taser use by each officer to ensure no abuse is occurring, he said, adding that "99.9 percent of the time, the use has been justified."
Still, civil rights groups have questioned the frequency of Taser use and the safety of the devices. Such questions gained traction in 2006 when a man with a history of mental impairment died after being stunned nine times with a Taser by North Charleston police.
The USC study looked at reported deaths related to the use of stun guns like the Taser. While low in rate, a few deaths were associated with excessive rounds of stun gun shocks. Whether stun guns led to or played a role in the majority of deaths in question remains unclear, the study found.
Alpert said Tasers are valuable and effective tools for law enforcement, but they must be accompanied by good policies and training, monitoring and systems for accountability.
"I think police departments have to control their use, just like they do with batons, firearms or any other tool," he said. "If not, they face the possibility of having these tools taken away from them, and that would be a real shame."
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
jimjones (anonymous) says...
Which do you want? A shot from the Glock or a shot from the taser? Taser's save the lives of officers and suspects. Most taser deaths have been conected to heart defects, drug use and other ailments that make the heart weak. All of these things officers usually don't know about when they go to calls.
July 8, 2009 at 1:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
http://callawyer.com/story.cfm?eid=89...
[:] Last June a San Jose federal jury found that Taser International, manufacturer of the Taser stun gun, was 15 percent liable for Heston's death (Heston v. City of Salinas, No. C 05-03658 (N.D. Cal. 2008)). The jury determined that Taser International knew or should have known that "prolonged exposure" to its stun gun could lead to cardiac arrest, and also that the company had failed to warn Salinas police of that risk. The failure to warn, it found, was a "substantial factor" in causing the police officers to administer a prolonged shock. The jury awarded the Hestons $1 million in wrongful death damages, [:]
In the past five years, more than 110 lawsuits have been filed against Taser International alleging wrongful death or personal injury.
---- At least 10 of those involving police officers injured during Taser training were settled by the company, ---- according to a 2007 Bloomberg News report; Taser refuses to disclose the precise number of suits it has settled. About 40 product liability suits are pending, Tuttle said in November. [:]
July 8, 2009 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
http://callawyer.com/story.cfm?eid=89...
Ultimately, neither side was able to conclusively show what causes Taser-related deaths.
[:] Still, Myers is convinced there's a causal link in the Heston case. "All people with methamphetamine intoxication do not die of the methamphetamine or of 'excited delirium,' " he wrote in his review of Taser's experts. "In the [Heston] case the only significant adverse physical stimulus was from the Taser applications. Are we really expected to believe that the Taser has no physiologic effects when delivered in the manner of this case? If so, then if the police had simply waited outside for 5 to 10 minutes, this man would have died spontaneously. [:]
July 8, 2009 at 5:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
http://www.ipicd.com/aboutipicd/histo...
Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths
http://www.ipicd.com/subjects/icdargu...
Sudden & In-Custody Deaths
July 8, 2009 at 6:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
issuetaker (anonymous) says...
If you have the strength of heart to reqire tasing in the first place, you have the strength of heart to be tased.
We can't expect officers to ascertain medical records before controlling an altercation. If you aren't up to a scrap, don't get involved in one.
July 8, 2009 at 6:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
$650,000 to tell us this? A wise man once said that, if you don't start nuttin, there won't be nuttin. In the face of a badge, do as you're told, and say only "yes, sir (ma'am)". $650,000; I wish you were kidding me...our education dollars at work, I suppose.
July 8, 2009 at 7:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mb300sl (anonymous) says...
$650K to tell us that tasers are effective? GEEEZZZ!
July 8, 2009 at 7:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
The gubmint hard at work, thank you Capt. Obvious
July 8, 2009 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tj (anonymous) says...
i wish i had a taser - can u get one for personal use?
July 8, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DeputyinSC18 (anonymous) says...
"But the study also found evidence of "lazy cop syndrome" in which some officers used their Tasers too quickly and too often. "Some officers are over-reliant on (stun guns) and are not putting their hands on suspects," he said."
Lazy Cop Syndrone, come on.... If I had the option to use my Taser rather than go hands on with a suspect you better believe I am going to Taser. Not worth me getting hurt when I have the tool. The ATM rule, Ask Tell Make.
July 8, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
signseeker17 (anonymous) says...
Gator, they probably did the study because of the wrongful death lawsuits.
Deputy, of course you are referring just to suspects who are resisting, and not ALL suspects.
July 8, 2009 at 2:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CWL922 (anonymous) says...
Stop taser use! Bring back guns. If more criminals were shot with guns crime would drop.
July 8, 2009 at 3:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lowcountrydawg (anonymous) says...
To hell with tasers...guns are more effective!!
July 8, 2009 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Moontree (anonymous) says...
DumpityinSC18 is the kind of "officer" that gets cities and counties sued. If you are too wussy to handle an alleged criminal without indiscriminantly electicuting them, you should turn in your badge and go to work bagging groceries.
July 8, 2009 at 10:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Moontree (anonymous) says...
I love the "just do what the officer tells you" comments. How did that work out for the Iranian protesters? This happens to be America and we have something called the Constitution here. Many times an officer may lack probable cause, etc. to stop you and try to detain you - at that point you have the right to disregard them and NOT be taxed for acting within your rights. This is not Iran you rednecks.
July 8, 2009 at 11:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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