ACLU-NC Urges SF Police Commission to Use Caution in the Use of Tasers - 71 Reported Deaths Following Stun-Gun Use

71 Reported Deaths Following Stun-Gun Use
For Immediate Release: September 24, 2004

SAN FRANCSICO – Only days after the death of a man in Vallejo, who was shot with a taser, the ACLU of Northern California is urging the San Francisco Police Commission to only authorize use of tasers “in cases where there is an imminent threat to human life.” The ACLU-NC sent a letter to the commissioners today expressing concern about the reported cases of deaths following use of the weapon. Tasers are weapons, which emit electrical shocks aimed at temporarily incapacitating an individual.

In a special meeting, the SFPD will demonstrate the use of tasers before Commission members who are considering purchasing the controversial weapons. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 21, at 3:00 pm at the Hall of Justice (850 Bryant St) Room 551.

“Over the past several months, there has been an increasing number of deaths associated with taser use and, at the same time, research sponsored by Taser International has been called into question,” said Mark Schlosberg, Police Practices Policy Director of the ACLU-NC. “Tasers are certainly a welcome alternative to a gun, however, given the uncertainties about the effects of tasers – particularly on individuals under the influence of drugs or with preexisting heart conditions – Departments should exercise caution and only authorize the use of tasers under limited circumstances.”

The letter outlines a series of recommendations that the Commission should enact that include the following:

Only authorize taser use in cases where deadly force would otherwise be authorized or where there is an imminent threat to human life.

Adopt strict reporting requirements and accountability measures that require officers to report each time a taser is used.

Each police report should include the reason the weapon was used, the number of times tasers were fired at a person, duration the weapon was held down for, the race of the individual who the weapon was used on, the name of the officer, whether there was any injury, and the extent of medical attention required.

The Office of Citizen Complaints and Risk Management Office should conduct quarterly reviews of taser uses, the effectiveness of the weapon, and how they are being used.

These recommendations are in accordance with the British Government, which, following a comprehensive review of the medical literature related to taser use authorized the use of the weapons, only “as a less lethal alternative for use in situations where a firearms authority has been granted.”