Police discuss Tasers at City Council
Columbia Police Department Interim Chief Capt. Tom Dresner responded to community questions about the department's Taser policies at the Monday City Council meeting.
In his report, Dresner said the department did not adequately educate the public about Tasers when it first approached the council for funding in 2005.
Dresner said the department needs a policy detailing the expectations of the management of CPD, better statistical gathering of information and retrieval for public scrutiny and an enhanced commitment to transparency and oversight, in his report.
Dresner's report to the City Council was a point-by-point response to a letter written by the Grass Roots Organizing, which criticized the department's Taser use. GRO questioned whether using a Taser was "reasonable and necessary" for the situations where it was used.
In his report, Dresner said other indicators of violent behavior, such a suspect turning his or her back on an officer and threatening physical harm, must be present for Taser use to be appropriate. The report cited an incident on Dec. 20, 2008 where an officer used a Taser on a male suspect who was caught urinating in public.
Dresner said the officer violated a section governing Taser usage that states officers must weigh the nature and seriousness of the offense against the likelihood of an injury from a fall ensuing before using a Taser against a suspect.
In his report, Dresner said the statue was revised to state a Taser may be used against a suspect who was fleeing from police.
Dresner said the department does not solely rely on Taser's training curriculum when teaching officers how to use the weapon. He said CPD has a well-incorporated "less lethal" training philosophy that's used when teaching officers how to use Tasers.
In his report, Dresner also said people who are exposed to Tasers are given first aid at the scene by officers.
Dresner also addressed the rule that children or anyone under the age of 18 must not be tased,in his report. The report stated an angry teenager in possession of a knife is the perfect candidate for Taser use and the department doesn't expect officers to risk death or serious physical injury based on age or physical disparity.
Dresner also addressed rules about how many times it is acceptable to tase a suspect and the use of video cameras attached to Tasers.