ACLU Calls for Policy Revisions, Data Collection and Statewide Task Force on Taser Use
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director, ACLU of Arizona, 602-418-5499 (cell) or 602-773-6006 (office)
PHOENIX – The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona today released a report based on Arizona law enforcement data on Taser usage – the first of its kind in the state – revealing that the weapons have not reduced the use of lethal force, and that departments across the state provide inadequate guidance to officers about whether Tasers can or should be used against pregnant women, children and the elderly, as well as on those not presenting a threat.
“Tasers are often promoted to the public on the ground that they can save lives in situations where police would otherwise use deadly force, however, the information we collected reveals serious issues with the use of Tasers in Arizona, including a lack of adequate training and accountability that endangers the public and could expose the police to expensive lawsuits,” said ACLU of Arizona Executive Director Alessandra Soler Meetze at a news conference announcing the report’s release. “The purpose of this report is not to attack TASER International or the police,” Meetze emphasized, “but to use the facts we gathered from police agencies as a starting point for meaningful reform.”
The comprehensive, 40-page report, A Force to Be Reckoned With: Taser Use and Policies in 20 Arizona Law Enforcement Agencies, is the first independent examination of the use of Tasers by law enforcement agencies in the state, which is home to TASER International Inc., a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: TASR). The ACLU report includes recommendations for reforms, including revising Taser’s place on the “use of force continuum,” implementing safeguards for vulnerable populations, collecting and analyzing data, providing training to supplement TASER International’s materials, and establishing a statewide task force to develop policy recommendations resources for law enforcement.
In late 2008, shortly after an Amnesty International study revealed that a high number of Taser-related deaths had occurred in Arizona, the ACLU of Arizona began investigating law enforcement Taser policies throughout the state. The ACLU of Arizona filed records requests with 20 agencies across the state between December 2008 and January 2010 (some additional data was collected in May 2010), and then reached out to Dr. Frances Bernat, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at Arizona State University, to conduct an analysis of the information.
One of the most significant findings of the report, according to Dr. Bernat, is that equipping officers with Tasers does not appear to have resulted in a reduction in the use of lethal force. Indeed, the data revealed no relationship between the deployment of Tasers and the use of firearms. Agency use of force policies suggest that many Taser shocks are not being fired by officers in the place of gunshots, but rather other, less-lethal use of force methods, such as chemical sprays and the like.
“Further information and study is needed to understand why Tasers have not resulted in a reduction of lethal force, as proponents have claimed,” Dr. Bernat said. “We are also troubled by the fact that Tasers are being routinely deployed in situations where lethal force would not be justified and where less extreme methods are available. Taken together, these findings highlight the need for a more sensible dialogue about Taser policies, training and deployment in Arizona law enforcement.”
According to the ACLU of Arizona report, virtually every sworn officer in the state carries the weapon. And recently, the Arizona Department of Public Safety ordered 1,000 new model X-3 TASERS, the largest purchase to date of the weapon.
“The review of agency policies revealed that officers in Arizona are operating under a patchwork of inconsistent and inadequate guidance on when Taser use is appropriate,” said ACLU of Arizona staff attorney Annie Lai, a co-author of the report. “We recognize that there are times when the police must use Tasers to protect their lives and the lives of others. But given the potentially serious consequences of a Taser shock, it is imperative that agencies provide their officers with clear rules about this powerful weapon, and then follow up those rules with strong accountability mechanisms.”
The study found that few departments collect reliable, comprehensive data about Taser use and other uses of force. The ACLU also expressed concern that nearly half of the agencies in the study rely solely on TASER International’s training materials to train their officers. This practice contradicts recent guidelines on Tasers released by the Police Executive Research Forum, a national organization of police professionals, that agencies not rely solely on training provided by the manufacturer.
While the report acknowledged that updates to TASER International’s training materials after previous versions drew criticisms from the ACLU and other human rights groups were a step in the right direction, it added: “Law enforcement agencies cannot depend on the company to always present the facts about TASERs. After all, it has a product to sell and will continue to be motivated first and foremost by its ‘bottom line.’”
Based on the report’s findings, the ACLU of Arizona is asking law enforcement officials to:
- Implement strong accountability mechanisms for Taser use, Including data collection
- Revisit Tasers’ place on the use-of-force continuum and update agency policies
- Mandate regular training that meaningfully incorporates agency rules and philosophies regarding Taser use
- Establish a state-wide body to review Taser use and develop policy recommendations and training resources for agencies.
The 20 law enforcement agencies that responded to the records request are: Chandler Police Department; Cochise County Sheriff’s Office; Coconino County Sheriff’s Office; Douglas Police Department; Department of Public Safety; Flagstaff Police Department; Glendale Police Department; Gilbert Police Department; Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office; Mesa Police Department; Peoria Police Department; Phoenix Police Department; Pima County Sheriff’s Office; Pinal County Sheriff’s Office; Scottsdale Police Department; Tempe Police Department; Tucson Police Department; Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office; Yuma County Sheriff’s Office; and Yuma Police Department.
Read a full copy of the report, including the executive summary, charts and appendices
Review the March 2011 model guidelines from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
Download the TASER International Training Manual, TASER X26 User Course, Version 16, (2009)
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