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ACLU CALLS ON POLICE CHIEFS TO LIMIT TASER GUN USE
September 16, 2004


HONOLULU - Citing uncertainty about the safety of taser guns and an increasing number of in-custody deaths associated with its use, the American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii today called on Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa and Maui Police Chief Thomas Phillips to revise their use-of-force policies to allow taser use only in situations where lethal force would be justified.

"Tasers are often touted to the public as a better way to subdue suspects without physical violence," said Lois K. Perrin, ACLU legal director. "While it is true that tasers are less fatal than firearms, the public should know that taser guns are being used in situations where police use of lethal force could never be justified. For example, in one of Honolulu¹s first uses of the taser, we understand that an officer deployed the weapon into a crowd and hit the wrong person. This is careless and requires a revision to police policy and practice. We are hopeful that the chiefs will heed our advice."

The ACLU letter cites a growing number of individuals, of at least 50, who have died since 2001 after being tased. The deaths call into question whether tasers are truly safe and raise questions about policies that allow officers to use tasers when there is no serious threat to human life or serious bodily injury.

The taser gun used by police delivers a 5-second electrical jolt of 50,000 volts each time and causes immediate, overwhelming and excruciating pain.

The Honolulu Police Department ("HPD") policy currently authorizes the use of taser guns in response to "passive resistance," which is defined as "the subject¹s physical actions, usually in the form of a relaxed or Œdead weight¹ posture, do not prevent an officer¹s attempt at control, but are intended to make the officer lift, pull or muscle the subject to establish control." Perrin added, "because the police currently use tasers in non-violent situations, at a minimum, their policy must be reviewed and revised because it allows an unnecessary level of force that could contribute to the death of a suspect."

The ACLU also requested that the police chiefs revise their use-of force policies to require more detailed reporting of each use of the taser and require mandatory medical treatment for all persons tased.

HPD started its taser pilot program in May 2004. Maui County followed suit and started training their officers on the use of taser guns in August in preparation to implement a taser pilot program.

The ACLU is a private, non-partisan, non-profit working daily in the courts, legislature and community to preserve the personal freedoms guaranteed to each person in the state and federal constitutions. It provides services statewide at no cost and is primarily funded by individual donations.

Related Information:
PDF copy of the letter to HPD
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