Tasers in Minneapolis

When should police be able to use tasers? What’s the current MPD policy and what changes are proposed?

The story
The Minneapolis Civilian Police Review Authority is holding a forum on July 15 addressing the Minneapolis Police Department´s Taser policy. The forum is in response to the MPD changing their 2006 policy. The 2006 policy regarding Tasers directed that only one officer could activate a Taser against a person at a time, and restricted employing Taser on passive subjects, children, frail persons, pregnant women, etc. The MPD changed that policy in 2007 without consulting City Council, and the CRA is proposing that they change it back. (The CRA is made up of citizens appointed by the Mayor and City Council who investigate complaints against any Minneapolis Police Officer.)

What’s at stake
Taser proponents say that Tasers save lives by giving police a nonlethal weapon to use against people. Opponents of the current policy question the safety of Tasers, which have caused injury and in some cases death. Also at issue is MPD’s authority to change policy without consulting city council.

What do we know so far?
Committee Will Examine Police Taser Use examines the 2006 controversy and city council action.

Getting Tased, Part I and Getting Tased, Part II examine the experience of tasers, training videos, arguments for and against taser use, and deaths related to taser use.

How can citizens respond?
The Minneapolis Civilian Police Review Authority (CRA) will hold a public forum on MPD Taser policy, and whether changes to the policy should be made at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 in Room 319 of City Hall, 350 S. 5th St. (use after-hours entrance: the center doors on 4th St. – north side of building)

Help us report this story
Have you been tased? Do you know someone who has? If you have information, or suggestions about who should be interviewed for this story, email sheila@tcdailyplanet.net or  comment at http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/article/2009/07/08/reporters-notebook-taser...