Groups Call on San Jose City Council to Support Taser Policy Reforms

Prior San Jose Police Chief Already Approved Reforms
For Immediate Release: November 28, 2005

SAN JOSE - In a letter sent today, organizations ranging from the Santa Clara County Democratic Party to the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley are calling on the San Jose City Council to put regulations in place guiding the use of Taser stun guns by San Jose police. Council members will consider proposed Taser regulations Tuesday, November 29 at 1:30 at 200 East Santa Clara Street in San Jose.

"Taser stun guns are potentially lethal weapons, and the San Jose Police Department needs to have basic rules in place for how they are used," said Steve Preminger, Chair of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party. "The proposed regulations enhance public safety and deserve to be implemented without delay."

Similar Taser regulations have already been implemented by former San Jose Police Chief Bill Lansdowne in his current role as San Diego Police Chief.

"The fact that prior San Jose police Chief Bill Lansdowne has already put similar Taser rules in place in San Diego shows just how reasonable these proposed recommendations are," said Kyra Kazantzis, Directing Attorney at Public Interest Law Firm, a project of the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley. "Police officers do not need the ability to use a Taser on someone who is already unconscious."

In their letter to the San Jose City Council, the organizations call for prohibiting Taser use on restrained, unconscious, non-combative, or otherwise incapacitated persons; restricting Taser use targeting children and minors, elders, pregnant women, and people with disabilities in life threatening situations; limiting repeated Taser shocks on an individual; and prohibiting Taser use on people engaging in passive civil disobedience.