Advocacy group testifies against tasers

By Andrew Denney
July 9, 2008

Members of a local advocacy group appeared before the Columbia City Council Monday to ask the council to rescind its decision to equip more police officers with tasers.

Ed Berg, a member of Grass Roots Organizing, spoke to the council after a 5-minute video, featuring several segments in which law enforcement officers used tasers on women, was shown to those in attendance to the meeting. He said the various segments of the video were “images of brutality.”

“I can’t believe this is happening in America,” Berg said.

While Berg spoke, Jennifer Disla, also a member of GRO, slowly unrolled a paper scroll that contained the names and addresses of 350 people that have been killed by tasers in the United States and Canada since 2001. Berg said the list was a “scroll of death.”

“We do not have to play Russian roulette with the lives of our people, nor sentence a person to death for not obeying the order of a police officer or a traffic violation or a stupid prank,” Berg said. “Trust, respect, cooperation with the community are the most effective weapons against crime.”

Berg said if the council decides to go forward with the purchase of the tasers that it should establish strict guidelines for use of the weapon by police and require accountability standards for the use of the weapons that is similar to that of firearms.

He also said the Columbia Police Department should provide extensive training to officers if they are issued the weapons, and give medical care to persons who have had a taser used on them.

“Taser guns are potentially lethal weapons and should be restricted to the same standards used when firearms deployed,” Berg said.

American Civil Liberties Union spokeswoman Carolyn Matthews, who was in attendance at the meeting, said the organization shares the same views as GRO on the issue.

The council approved the purchase of tasers at a June 2 meeting, and the purchase would increase the number of officers equipped with the weapons from 38 to 78.

Third Ward Councilman Karl Skala said taser use has the potential for abuse “written all over it.”

Sixth Ward Councilwoman Barbara Hoppe said she also had concerns about regulating the use of the weapon by police.

“I think its important to have a good policy in place to make sure we don’t give the death penalty for a minor infraction of an order.” Hoppe said.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser said the video shown at the meeting by GRO did not provide enough information about the issue.

Second Ward Councilman Chris Janku put forth a motion to request a report on the weapon and the procedures with which police use them. The motion was approved unanimously by the council.

Columbia Police Department Interim Chief Tom Dresner said the council has valid concerns for taser use, and said most of the use of weapon depicted in the film was “outside of our policies.”

“There was some shock value in the video, but the Columbia Police Department doesn’t allow taser use under those circumstances.” Dresner said.

MU Police Department Captain Brian Weimer said the department does not use tasers, but has looked into acquiring them.

GRO will hold a public meeting July 15 at 6:30 pm to discuss the use of tasers by police. The meeting will be held at 611 N. Garth Ave.

Share on Facebook

Advocacy group testifies against tasers

More July 9, 2008 Outlook Stories

Most recent Outlook Stories