Tasers, again
I have contended before that issuing police Tasers and other probably-not-lethal devices would result in using these devices when they weren’t absolutely necessary. In Nashville, that seems to be what is happening:
A Tennessean review of police reports for the first seven people shocked with Tasers since 45 stun guns were distributed to officers on the streets of Nashville last month, showed that:
• All seven were black men between the ages of 17 and 32.
• Five were unarmed.
• Only two of the men were accused of fighting or threatening to strike officers before they were shocked.
• One man was shocked while already in handcuffs.
The Tennessean concludes that in five of seven cases the suspect was not violent. Police officials would be well advised to create a standard for use, like they do with deadly force. I am not saying that the criteria for Taser use should be the same for deadly force but that a set of guidelines would prevent abuse of these devices. Tasering a suicidal 6 year old is inexcusable.
