+1 862 207 3288 The Taser is a law enforcement gadget that is simple to use and rather useful. The tool enables a law enforcement office to subdue a person suspected of crime employing electricity rather than the use of force or other harmful objects. However, recent studies indicate that some police officers are too quick to use the popular gadget in places where conventional means can suffice. Indeed, there are growing concerns that the law enforcers are using excessive force through the use of Tasers hence inflicting unnecessary pain. In rare cases, the same gadget has led to the loss of live. The issuance of conductive energy devices, otherwise known as CED’s, or the Tasers are a particular weapon that creates unique opportunities for a police officer to use excessive force to combat crime.
According to reports, there are several injury lawsuits that people have files within various American courts (McStravick, 2011). Arguably, it is standard practice for a police officer to have a Taser in the line of duty since the tool incapacitates an armed individual. In fact, the Taser is preferable where the law enforcement agents engaged in a shoot-out with a criminal. Nevertheless, the use of the tool is inappropriate in some circumstances especially when it causes pain to an innocent individual. Cases involving Taser use have continuously become the norm in the American corridors of justice. On a daily basis, judges are burning the midnight oil as they try to determine whether using the Taser constitutes excessive force and when the use of the tool is suitable or otherwise.
McStravick states that the officer at the scene of crime sorely defines if the suspect poses a threat to the police or other passers-by (2011). The author proceeds to say that the courts always seem to grant defense to such police officers. AS such, the courts condone the law enforcer’s use of force through the Taser even when there are questions on whether the suspect posed any threat to anyone. According to McStravick, the law enforcers should be slow in their use of the Taser as the authorities continue to ponder on the controversial subject.
There exists minimal research that reflects on the introduction, training, and use of Tasers. Furthermore, there seem to be variations on the training accorded to the officers. The trend had led to inconsistency in the use of the tool, hence making it hard to determine the impact of Tasers on trained officers and the level of citizen safety owing to a reduction in the use of the lethal gadget. Authorities should consider policy changes, among them, being the duration of training, the content of training material, and the officer’s qualifications among other considerations.
The police policies that we have today seem to be inconsistent, and they have played a role in the conflicting Taser use. The authorities need to move with urgency and address the issue and come up with a clear standard on Taser usage. The standard will act as a guide to the law enforcers and the courts in determining the rightful use of the tool. Since self-regulation has proved difficult over time, the federal government should take the sole responsibility of enacting a uniform policy that regulates Taser use.
Reference
McStravick, Michelle E. (2011). The shocking truth: Law enforcement’s use and abuse of Tasers and the need for reform. Villanova Law Review, 56(2), 363-394.
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