Tasers considered for beat cops

By Ali Reed
Medill Reports - Chicago

Chicago police beat cops may soon carry a Taser with them on the streets. The city hopes to add an additional 2,500 of the electric-shock guns to the 350 they already have.

"I don't think it's right," said Janet Parker, a Chicago resident. "It causes too many unnecessary deaths."

The Chicago Sun-Times has reported that Chicago police are seeking bids for the additional weapons, which use an electric shock to immobilize a suspect. The department did not return calls seeking confirmation.

Many human rights groups echo Parker's sentiment. "There's a question about in what circumstances should a weapon that inflicts 5,000-volt shocks to somebody be used," said Barbara Frey, a co-convener for the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights. The organization does not support expanding police use of Tasers, a brand of electric-shock weapons.

"It's a catch 22," said Derrick Charles, a Chicago resident. "On the one hand it could work in a positive light because it could secure and protect officers from harm. On the other hand, they already have guns and this may invoke them to use more violence, and people are already threatened by their presence with guns."

In October, the Chicago Police Department drew sharp criticism after one of its officers used a Taser on an 82-year-old woman.

In 2006, an 11-year-old student was Tasered by police in Atlanta. More recently, Oklahoma police were criticized for Tasering a woman whom they had already handcuffed. She died following the incident. And the University of Florida police sparked a national debate when they Tasered a student during a speech by Sen. John Kerry.

"We've been concerned that Tasers, rather than being used only in exceptional circumstances, have been put on the same level as pepper spray and batons," said Frey. "And that encourages police to use Tasers too often and in an excessive manner."

Amnesty International has tracked Taser use by police since 2001. The organization found that since that year, there have been more than 290 deaths following police Tasering nationally. At least eight of these deaths occurred in Illinois.

Dr. Mohamed Dahodwala, a cardiologist at St. Anthony's Hospital, said there is conflicting research on how the electric shock from a Taser affects the heart. But it is clearly damaging if used in excess.

"If it is used several times, or for longer than 5 seconds, it increases the chances of cardiac arrest," said Dr. Dahodwala. "If the (citizen) has a bad heart, he is at a greater risk of dying."

Human rights groups are concerned about the training the Chicago officers will receive before they are armed with Tasers. "They need to be aware that (the Taser) can kill someone from an electric disturbance to the heart," Dahodwala said.

"We are concerned that (police) are not being given the strict regulations about how to use Tasers, so they have become all too quickly used against the public, especially against the unarmed public," Frey said.

"In theory (Tasers( are not as dangerous as a gunshot, but police are more cautious about circumstances in which they use firearms," Frey said. "It gives police too easy an option to use something that's harmful."

Each police department sets its own guidelines for Tasers. Chicago police did not return calls regarding their policies.