After Eastern Michigan University police began using Tasers this month, MSU police and students are joining the debate of when and how they should be used on campus.
MSU police have about 55 to 60 Tasers for all officers assigned to the road who complete a four-hour training, with renewed training every two years, said MSU police Sgt. Mike Aguilera, a defensive tactics and Taser instructor.
“After looking at statistics, it reduced officer injury and suspect injury,” Aguilera said of the choice to implement Taser carrying at the MSU department about 10 years ago.
He said there have been around six cases in which Tasers were used at MSU in the last year. Their use has minimized the need for hand-to-hand combat, which puts the officers in more danger.
He said Taser use at universities should be on a case-by-case basis depending on a college’s circumstances.
“Central Michigan doesn’t have the population we do,” Aguilera said. “If Central was next to Detroit, I think they would reconsider.”
Central Michigan University police Lt. Larry Klaus said his department decided against allowing officers to carry Tasers because very few assaults on officers have occurred on campus in the last few years — about two assaults in 2011.
“It’s based a lot on the college campus community,” Klaus said. “We don’t feel it would be viewed favorably.”
Klaus said prior to his work at the Central Michigan police, he worked at the Lansing Police Department, where Tasers are used.
“They’re great tools,” Klaus said. “In my experience in Lansing … it kept officers from deploying deadly force.”
Klaus said the Central Michigan police also were concerned with the negative aspects of the Taser, including risk of death. Still, Aguilera said the deaths involved with Taser use might have been because of other underlying health issues.
“Stuff has to give you the edge whenever life and death is on the line,” Aguilera said. “It’s a tool.”
He said Tasers only are used when an officer feels the need to use a “less than lethal” weapon, or a weapon unlikely to cause death, and sometimes the mere sight of a Taser can de-escalate a situation before use is necessary.
Although Klaus said Tasers might not be welcome in the Central Michigan community just yet, some MSU students feel safer knowing Tasers are used as an alternative to guns.
“Guns make me uncomfortable and Tasers make me uncomfortable,” interdisciplinary studies in social science and international studies senior Lauren Kovacevich said. “But if it’s police — no matter if it’s a state police, a local police or an (MSU) police — I think they should be qualified to handle those properly and know … when to use them.”
Staff writer Christine LaRouere contributed to this story.
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