No form of power should be abused, and that goes for Taser guns, too.
According to a recent State News article, East Lansing police officers have used Taser guns an average of twice each month this past year. As part of a check to make sure the use was well deserved, officers are required to submit a use of force report that is reviewed by department officials.
The article, printed Monday, came as a response to a video posted on YouTube.com that showed a UCLA student repeatedly being Tased by a police officer. Tasers also have been used locally.
In the case of the UCLA student, it appears as if the police officer was extremely out of line and unjustifiably abusing his power. The student was Tased in the library for not showing his ID to the police officer, who then asked him to leave. Allegedly, when the student refused removal, the officer Tased the student. The incident was caught on other students' camera phones and then distributed on the Internet.
As it turns out, the UCLA police officer responsible for the Tasing has a serious history of violence — including shooting a homeless man — and was previously recommended for dismissal because of an alleged assault.
The most recent incident in East Lansing of Taser gun use took place Nov. 18 at The Landings at Chandler Crossings.
Like all violent resources, Taser guns should be used as a last resort. Of course, there are incidents in which Taser guns are the only option for police officers to do their job, but the decision to utilize one should be easily justified.
That's why it's good that the ELPD has any police officer who uses a Taser gun submit a report. This way, these incidents can be recorded in depth, and if there are any concerns, the report can be thoroughly reviewed.
Another Taser watchdog technique is happening right here on campus. Criminal justice Assistant Professor William Terrill has teamed up with a Florida researcher to analyze the various types of force used by police officers across the country.
Terrill and the researcher are surveying 1,000 agencies about their policies. Although Taser guns are not considered a lethal weapon, according to reports by Amnesty International and numerous papers, more than 100 people have died in Taser-related incidents since 1999.
MSU police Sgt. Jill Geile said a Taser gun is an "intermediate weapon," one used between physical hand-to-hand fighting and using a gun. While this may be true, police officers should remember that they must be responsible with their power, and Taser guns shouldn't be used unless completely necessary.
