Jacksonville, Fla. Police to Stop Using Tasers for Now

[struggle4progress]

Updated: February 23rd, 2005 12:51:49 PM

Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Reacting to several deaths in Florida and nationwide, Jacksonville's sheriff has ordered his officers to put away their Taser stun guns until a new training program and use policy can be devised.

Sheriff John Rutherford said Tuesday that he still believes Tasers are a safe, non-lethal way to subdue struggling suspects who might otherwise have to be shot, but he wants his officers trained on how to deal with the medical emergencies the stun guns may cause.

Tasers jolt the body with 50,000 volts of electricity, temporarily incapacitating them. But about 100 people have died nationally since 1999 after being shocked with a Taser, including recent deaths in Pensacola, Hollywood, Naples and Delray Beach. <snip>

Jacksonville began arming some of its patrol officers with Tasers last month. The department had purchased 1,800 Tasers at a cost of $2 million and had plans to give them to more officers over the next year, including to those assigned to schools. That led to complaints from parents. <snip>

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