There is a large controversy over the use of conducted energy weapons (CEW) in both Canada and the United States. Although a 2004 Amnesty International report cited in White and Ready (2007) accounted for up to 74 individuals killed after being shocked by a TASER in both the United States and Canada, these deaths were not completely subject to the conducted energy weapon itself. The Canadian police force should continue to use conducted energy weapons because the positives of the device such as removing the police officer from dangerous situations, the less harm they transmit to the offender and since it is a less lethal option, outweigh the fatalities proceeding CEW use. The little research and reports on the subject shows that these fatalities in most cases were caused by, but not limited to, the excessive or unnecessary misuse of the device by the police officer or outside factors of the offender such as drugs and alcohol, age of suspect, heart problems and Excited Delirium Syndrome.
There are many brands of conducted energy weapons but the TASER is the dominant model on the market (Zaychenko & Verdum-Jones 2011). Zaychenko and Verdun-Jones (2011) explain that the newest models of the TASER have a similar appearance to a pistol and it has two separate modes of electrical current: push-stun mode or probe mode. Push stun mode is when “the device is pressed against the target’s body, emitting a pulsed electrical current directly into the muscles” whereas the probe mode discharges two probes out of the weapon that penetrate the targets clothing and first layer sending electrical current (Zaychenko &Verdun-Jones 2011). They were introduced after teargas grenades were discontinued due to eye injuries and as a second option to pepper spray (White & Ready 2007).
Conducted energy weapons were first introduced to the police force since they are a less lethal option of suspect control and are safer for the police officer (Zaychenko & Verdun-Jones 2011). Increased fatalities proceeding CEW use has caused many to reevaluate the benefits of the weapon however, it is important to consider the underlying factors of the deaths such as police officer misuse. This misuse could be the police officer using the device in a non-life threatening situation, when the device is used on the chest or when there are multiple shocks deployed like in the Dziekanski case (Zaychenk &Verdun-Jones 2011). Zaychenko and Verdun-Jones suggests the frequency referring to “inappropriately low levels of suspect resistance” as well as repetition such as excessive amount of TASERs being used on one person or multiple cycles being used.
The Bryan v McPherson case is in reference to the use of a Taser gun. Carl Bryan was stopped by Coronado Police Department Officer McPherson for not wearing his seatbelt. Bryan was irate with himself for not putting it back on after being stopped and cited by the California Highway Patrol for speeding just a short time prior to encountering Officer McPherson. Officer McPherson stated that Mr. Bryan was acting irrational, not listening to verbal commands, and exited his vehicle after being told to stay in his vehicle. “Then, without any warning, Officer McPherson shot Bryan with his ModelX26 Taser gun” (Wu, 2010, p. 365). As a result of being shot with a Taser, he fell to the asphalt face first causing severe damage to his teeth and bruising
The Use of the TASER in the Police Force. The use of conducted energy weapons in the police force has become increasingly popular since they were introduced only a short while ago. The TASER is claimed to be the safest and most productive type of less lethal force in use today, with a very quick recovery rate and no long term side effects. The TASER has quickly taken over the harsh use of pepper spray, the brutal force of the baton and in some cases the firearm.
This essay will aim to explore the controversial issue in regards to whether more police officers should be armed with Tasers. This essay will argue that more officers should not be equipped with Tasers, also known as “Conducted Energy Weapons” (CEWs), and that the issuing of Tasers by police services should be limited to supervisors and specialized tactical units until further research has been conducted on the effects that Tasers have on the human body. Furthermore the abuse of Tasers by police officers will also be argued as another reason why officers should not be armed with Tasers.
Smith, M. R., Petrocelli, M., & Scheer, C. (2007). Excessive force, civil liability, and the taser in
Use of Electronic Control Devices (ECD’s) such as the widely used taser X26 at the discretion of police officers can be a very useful tool in order to temporarily disable and obtain custody of a non-compliant suspect. When used appropriately it can even reduce the risk of a suspect physically harming the officer, himself or others through temporary physical incapacitation. However these devices need not be used unnecessarily, and officers who do employ their use liberally and without just cause should not go without appropriate disciplinary measures proportionate to the magnitude of the situation. I would like to shed light on a few examples of ECD use where officer discretion have come under scrutiny.
...using chemical sprays or projectiles implanted with chemicals, such as pepper spray. Officers may also use “Conducted Energy Devices, CEDS” to control an individual, these weapons are usually known as Tasers. Tasers release a high-voltage jolt of electricity from a distance. A good situation in which law enforcement officers use this guideline is when they are trying to control riots. Using less-lethal technologies officers may be able to control a large group, if they are not able to restrain them then officers will be left to use blunt impact, chemicals such as tear gas or pepper spray, or even conducted energy devices until they are able to get ahold of the situation
When hearing the phrase “police brutality,” many people imagine batons cracking skulls, tasers electrocuting bodies and bullets penetrating innocent teens. While police officers have been known to use violence, police brutality does not occur as often as many believe. In many situations, officers have to act on impulse and curiosity, despite the backlash the media may create.
Freddie Grey, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, John Crawford, Eric Gardner, Jordan Baker.These are just some of the many, many African American people that were killed by the police, all unarmed, all mistreated by the police, all shot and killed, without a crime.. Every twenty-eight hours a life is lost. There are hundreds of innocent lives that are being taken away from their families. Police officers, who are meant to protect and serve, are instead killing and abusing civilians. These outrageous crimes would be avoided through accountability of the police, use of body cameras at all times, and the use of social media.
Police brutality is a very real problem that many Americans face today. The police carry an enormous burden each day. Police work is very stressful and involves many violent and dangerous situations. In many confrontations the police are put in a position in which they may have to use force to control the situation. There are different levels of force and the situation dictates the level use most of the time. The police have very strict rules about police use force and the manner in which they use it. In this paper I will try to explain the many different reason the police cross the line, and the many different people that this type of behavior effects. There are thousands of reports each year of assaults and ill treatment against officers who use excessive force and violate the human rights of their victims. In some cases the police have injured and even killed people through the use of excessive force and brutal treatment. The use of excessive force is a criminal act and I will try and explore the many different factors involved in these situations.
I am writing you this letter because I am worried. My concerns are related to the subject of police brutality in Canada. I fear that a lot of citizens ignore how much this type of violence is present in our country and I am asking you to help educated them, as well as to put a stop to police brutality. This past couple of years, the number of crimes committed by the police have increased and proper consequences are not well imposed. Police officers are supposed to protect the citizens of the country and instead, they are losing the trust of these people by committing frightening and unnecessary actions. In this letter, I will explain to you why I am worried….The violation of some human rights such as the article seven, nine and …. will be
Everyday law enforcement personal have the possibility to face dangerous events in their daily duties. In performing such duties a police officer could come by a seemingly ordinary task, and in a blink of an eye the event can turn threatening and possible deadly. When or if this happens to an officer they won’t have
Early in the 17th century was when the first modern day policing was expected to have begun. Ever since the 18th century begun, incidences of police using excess force by abusing their power have been quite common. As time progressed, these wrongful actions by police have been entitled as police brutality. Police brutality is defined as" the use of excessive force used by police dealing with public... excessive force can be either physical, verbal, and/or psychological". According to this definition, whether it be arresting someone with too much force or even uttering certain statements, can all be classified as police brutality. No individual should be victimized by police officers who use excess force that in no way deters crimes. It does nothing but bring a dire unjust society in which innocent people can feel afraid; and give those officers who are correctly doing their duties a bad reputation. Due to the dispensable, unscrupulous nature of police brutality; several measures including disciplining police officers, stricter laws(and stringent penalties), integration, as well as educating the general public about their rights, must be applied in order to extirpate the misconduct citizens should not have to face.
Recently in the United States there has been in increase in deaths that have come from police officers using deadly force. The use of force is inevitable as a police officer, many times their own lives or the life’s civilians are at risk when it comes to determine what type of force a officer should use. There are many incidents where police officer have to react in a matter of seconds and has to choose between his own life or that of the individual causing the disturbance. When a Police Officer uses deadly force has caused outraged with the public, stirring up protests and creating a scandal for the police officer and the Police Department. Many do not know when it is right for an officer to use deadly force and what constitutes it, or what happens when the officer does not use the appropriate amount of force that is required to control the situation. There has been many changes in Police Departments around the country to try to reduce the use of deadly force in response to the issues that have occurred because of it.
According to the National Police Academy, in the past year, there have been over 7,000 reports of police misconduct; fatalities have been linked to more than 400 of these cases (Gul). Police brutality is often triggered by disrespect towards the police officer. The most noticeable form of brutality is physical, where Chemical gas, batons, tasers, and guns, can be used for physical intimidation or to actually hurt people. Police brutality can also take the form of verbal abuse or psychological intimidation. It seems reasonable to understand that sometimes the police are put into situations where excessive force may be needed. But, because some officers use these extreme actions in situations when it is not, police brutality should be addressed and looked into by both the police and the public. For instance, a police officer who beats a nonviolent protester with a baton would probably be accused of excessive use of force, under the argument that the police officer probably could have dealt with the situation less violently.
The Police Side of Shooting Deaths and Other Trauma. Journal of Law Enforcement, 2010. www.jghcs.info [ISSN 2161-0231 (Online)] 17 April 2015