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Friday, October 16, 2009

News Portland Cops May Reevaluate Taser Policy After Company's Shocking Policy Change

Posted by Matt Davis on Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM

The Portland Police Bureau is evaluating a shocking new advisement by Taser International, and will decide about changes in its Taser policy training, according to bureau spokeswoman Mary Wheat, this afternoon.

Canadian Mounties were instructed last Friday to aim Taser probes away from the suspect's chest area, after Taser International raised new concerns about its weapons causing cardiac arrest.

Taser International issued the directive at the end of September, saying that cutting back on chest shots “avoids the controversy about whether [electronic control devices] do or do not affect the human heart.”

Taser said in its bulletin that the “risk of an adverse cardiac event” related to taser use is “deemed to be extremely low.” However, the company adds that a number of factors come into play, including drug use or underlying cardiac problems that cannot be diagnosed by police officers on the spot.


Here's a graphic from the newspaper in Canada:
taser_graphic_273762a.jpg


AIM AWAY FROM THE CHEST: TO STOP CARDIAC ARRESTS

Until recently, Taser has claimed its weapons are completely safe. Now, it's suggesting they're completely safe, but you might want to not shoot people in the chest to avoid "controversy," like the suspect dying?

"Our training division is aware of the Taser International advisement," says Wheat. "We are evaluating it and will decide about changes in our Taser policy training."

 

Comments (9) RSS

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1
"shocking new advisement", I see what you did there.
Posted by Graham on October 16, 2009 at 2:35 PM · Report
2
I know. Twice. Right?
Posted by Matt Davis on October 16, 2009 at 2:49 PM · Report
3
Erm, isn't the whole point of Tasers to protect you when the person is attacking you? So why would you ever need to Tase them in the back???
Posted by Stu on October 16, 2009 at 3:03 PM · Report
4
I like how the junk is still an acceptable target area. Keep it classy, Taser.
Posted by atomic on October 16, 2009 at 3:05 PM · Report
5
@Stu

The cops always Tase people in the back. Mostly it's when there are 3 or 4 cops on top of the suspect. Think about the "don't Tase me bro" kid. How many cops were on top of him when they finally went ahead and Tased him? 4 or 5 right?
Posted by BlackedOut on October 16, 2009 at 3:18 PM · Report
6
@Stu - In the hands of a police officer, the taser's purpose is not protection, it is pacification.
Posted by iwouldprefernotto on October 16, 2009 at 3:21 PM · Report
7
"Lawyerly" is the term that comes to mind.
Posted by Bob R. on October 16, 2009 at 11:17 PM · Report
8
Lets just ban the taser all together. Let the cops go back to just beating the shit out of people with batons and fist.
Posted by SneakO on October 17, 2009 at 2:26 PM · Report
9
Just wanted to point out the reporter's name that illustration of a crotch as a valid taser target. Carrie Cockburn.
Posted by Crowsby on October 19, 2009 at 3:39 AM · Report

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