Image of Taser From Gothamist
As reported previously , the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department has requested the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp ( RIOC ) to:
… consider allowing Public Safety Officers to be equipped with Tasers to better protect the officers from injuries caused by suspects resisting arrest, for help gaining compliance from suspects as well as preventing disturbed people from injuring themselves….
Last night, Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department conducted a Community Meeting Presentation on Tasers:
Image From RIOC
The meeting began with a presentation by Public Safety Director Keith Guerra making his case for the Tasers to be used by Public Safety Officers. Here’s what he had to say.
You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Taser Presentation (Part 1)
Following Mr. Guerra’s presentation there was a question and answer period with the audience. Here’s the first half of the Q & A period. (second half of Taser Q&A will be added later today).
You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Taser Presentation (Part 2)
More information on Roosevelt Island Taser issue as well as comments from readers at this post.
UPDATE 9:30 PM – Here’s the remaining portion of the question and answer session.
You Tube Video of Roosevelt Island Taser Presentation (Part 3)
It would have been more helpful had this community meeting included experts on Tasers who had a different view from the Public Safety Department on the use of Tasers so that a full and complete review of the issue could be fairly examined. For instance, Gothamist reported in October 2011 article:
… according to a new report [ pdf ] from the NYCLU, “police officers are using Tasers in inappropriate, irresponsible and downright deadly manner.” As the saying goes: shoot 50,000 volts of electricity into somebody’s chest first, ask questions later.
Studying 851 Taser incidents from eight police department across the state (including the NYPD), 60% of those cases did not meet the expert-recommended standards that restrict the use of a Taser to “situations where officers can document active aggression or a risk of physical injury.” 40% of the incidents involved “at-risk subjects” like the elderly, children, the visibly infirm, or those who were seriously intoxicated or mentally ill.
It also appears that Taser’s aren’t colorblind: 58% of all Taser incidents in the state involved black or Latino suspects. And in 75% of the occurrences, no warning was reported. In half of the surveyed jurisdictions, no verbal warning is required before an officer uses his Taser gun….
Roosevelt Island resident Mark Lyon made an excellent point during the meeting and as a comment to this post:
… Last night, at the PSDPresentation, they made it clear that they would not create final policies before approaching the board for approval. They instead would wait until after approval. Personally, I think having finalized policies in place would make it easier for the board to evaluate whether to approve purchase of these devices.
More information is clearly needed before any decision is made by RIOC Directors on Tasers being used by Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department.
