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Taser debate continues
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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Depending on who you ask, a Taser, a type of stun gun, is either a safe and effective tool — or a deadly weapon sometimes misused.
But after several deaths in the state involving police use of Tasers — including a fatality during the weekend in Prince George’s County — their safety is still subject to debate.
“Police think Tasers are nonlethal, and as we’ve seen with these deaths, there are no such thing as nonlethal weapons,” said Richard Moran, a professor of criminology at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. “They are more likely to be used, and so may cause more deaths than firearms over time.”
But Ken Cooper, a New York firearms instructor who trains police officers to use stun guns, disagrees.
“How many times has a suspect been stunned by police when they would have been shot?” he asked. “It’s a very critical tool for law enforcement.”
Tasers allow police to deliver an electrical charge that debilitates a suspect from a distance.
“The advantages to Taser technology are dramatic reductions in injuries to both suspects and law enforcement officers,” said Steve Tuttle, spokesman for Taser International, which makes and supplies Tasers to police.
Since March, four people in Maryland have died after being stunned with Tasers by police: two in Baltimore City, one in Baltimore County and one in Prince George’s County, where police Tasered a man after they said he became combative.
Uywanda Peterson, 43, attacked a Baltimore narcotics officer “without provocation” during an investigation, police said, prompting the officer to strike her in the chest with a Taser.
In March, Baltimore County police reported that Ryan Lee Meyers, 40, of Middle River, died after being shocked with the device. Meyers, whose family said he suffered from bipolar disorder, refused to drop a baseball bat in the house he shared with his parents. The state medical examiner has ruled that Meyers died of cardiac arrhythmia in association with “police restraint.” The ruling on the cause of Peterson’s death is pending.
Of the almost 180 deaths that have been attributed to stun-gun use since their introduction as a police weapon, the debate rages over whether Tasers or other factors were the cause.
“Any time there is an electrical shock, somebody’s heart rhythm could be knocked awry, but the argument from the Taser people is that there is not enough voltage to kill,” said Cyril Wecht, a forensic pathologist who investigated John F. Kennedy’s and Anna Nicole Smith’s deaths.
Wecht said Taser-related deaths are often complicated by other factors, making it difficult to place the blame squarely on the weapon.
“I’m not about to say that it is impossible for someone to die after they were Tasered. However, when you analyze the deaths you will generally find one or more other factors, including drug use or preexisting conditions,“ Wecht said.
Despite the controversy, Baltimore County is looking to buy more. “We have requested 20 more Tasers. We are going to continue to our program,” police spokesman Cpl. Michael Hill said.
Cooper said stun guns offer an important alternative for officers.
“Cops don’t shoot to kill; police officers want to stop people from doing something dumb — the Taser is the most effective tool to date to do that,” he said.
Examiner Staff Writer Luke Broadwater contributed to this story.
sjanis@baltimoreexaminer.com
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Examiner Reader said:
Save lives. Stop police use of tasers!
77 agree | 74 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
But, but, but, all taser deaths in Maryland have been caused by police use of tasers on unarmed citizens. No deaths have been caused by citizen use of tasers. Training is critical for all taser users , especially police. There should be serious repercussions for misuse and abuse of tasers.
100 agree | 81 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
While were at it lets let every nucklehead in Maryland have a Bazooka. Come on people some things just need to be used by police and police only. If the people have access to weapons that police have that puts police at a disadvantage, and then there will be more shootings by police instead of less leathal deterants. I'm not a doctor so you will not see me going out to by tools to do brain surgery. Why would people want tools that police have unless they want to use them for other reasons than what they are attended for.
95 agree | 97 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Tasers can be dangerous and lead to death. Such a device should be used when and only if the use as a primary weapon before the use of a gun. Controlling some one who is unruly by a taser when proven safer methods exist can be wrong. Tasers have shown a high degree of death in people with heart conditions. They should only be used as alternative to shooting.
85 agree | 108 disagree
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The Undertaker said:
Everyone should be allowed to carry a Taser. But maybe there should be a training course first. The police might need some retraining as well.
99 agree | 97 disagree
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Jon Carlile said:
Well I lost a brother a year and half ago. When he was pulled over he was having a medical emergency and wasn't able to respond to their comands the police ended up tasering him 3 times. He ended up dying 3 weeks later. Maybe the police should have been better trained on handling situations like that.
78 agree | 53 disagree
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Laurence Jones said:
The first real use of the taser in Howard county was reportedly to repeatedly stun a concert goer at Merriweather Post Pavilion for urinating in public. Seems pretty harsh.
126 agree | 104 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Want to avoid being tasered? Follow instructions and cooperate.
136 agree | 146 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What people are overlooking is that police are using these tasers randomly. They are not just using them in situations of imminent danger. They were not meant to be used in the manner they are being used.
201 agree | 166 disagree
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geez said:
dear relative. you are dumb. a taser will deploy the same amount of electricity to the leg as it does to the chest. if your relative would have kept her addict self in her house and not fighting with police, she'd be alive looking for free treatment today. and how is the officer supposed to know her history? get a clue.
177 agree | 128 disagree
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examiner sucks said:
Are you kidding me that this is even a debate? Do what the police tell you to do, don't fight them, and don't resist. It's common sense!
170 agree | 133 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Taser is a life saving tool used instead of being shot! It is time for people to wake up and see this tool as a very useful and effective way of keeping Officers, suspect and the public safe.
194 agree | 160 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
if people dont know all the facts then they shouldnt open there mouth. inreference to the AED most police are first responders, but why would you shock someone who was just tasered if that is what you believe caused it? The simple factor is if people didnt do drugs they wouldnt put everyone in this situation, and usually if the taser is deployed it could have been a gun day if the taser was not implemented. Criminals should feel lucky for the taser, because if not for the taser they would be in alot more pain or face even more charges. The taser is utilized 1000s of times a year and you have very few deaths (usually to find out drugs are related). I am not happy about the deaths but the people who due pass away are not the best of people, they in most cases have hurt many people including family and now the police officers. Who would be next and where would the fear stop? So I say be thankful for another weapon to help keep our streets safe!!
202 agree | 130 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Tasers saves lives! The bottom line is that Suspect actions cause the Police to deploy the taser.
189 agree | 176 disagree
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Relative said:
Police should not be using and Tasers hitting people in the chest. Just because a person has past criminal record does not mean the person is a bad individual. The woman needed help in getting clean. Where are the programs available for people like her. She still have a family left behind. Is the city of Baltimore going to support and provide for her children? Activitist should protect and make sure the autopsy is conducted not just by the police department. Also, by finding narccotics near the scene was not in her possession does this mean you die because of three vials? Within her arrest since 1991 which is sixteen years should tell you this woman has had in ongoing drug problem. This just goes away now, no it should be deal with, how close was the police office to her? Did the police have just caused?
212 agree | 192 disagree
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Mike Mage said:
When the police use Tasers they need to be ready to deal with collapse. That means being trained as first responders and have a defibrillator (AED) in the squad car and be trained to use it. Otherwise you may be brain dead by the time the paramedics get there.
204 agree | 189 disagree
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