New York, New York (NewYorkInjuryNews.com) –- Is it possible that the increased amount of taser guns could lead to an increased amount of police brutality cases or a better behaved public? According to international UN regulations, if the use of force is unavoidable, law enforcement officers must “exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and the legitimate objective to be achieved.”
The popularity of tasers has been constantly on the rise, as many officers prefer using the taser guns to their bullet guns. Tasers work by firing metal barbs into the skin, which then discharges an electrical charge, designed to disable someone, long enough to allow police to detain them safely. Out of a total of 18,000 US police departments, 7,000 currently use taser weapons. Tasers are currently issued to all patrol officers as a matter of policy in 1,700 departments.
Currently, in New York City, police officers are testing the use of tasers. Around 300 New York City Police Officers are carrying tasers to test the program before distributing them to 3,000 more officers. The reason for the preliminary test is because there have been numerous allegations that police are using the tasers too frequently and in unnecessary circumstances, which could in turn, cost cities and tax payers millions of dollars. Additionally, Amnesty International USA has counted 250 cases in the last six years in which people died after being stunned with a Taser, but it is uncertain if the shock directly caused the deaths. Many have been suspected to be the result of heavy drug or alcohol use.
Nevertheless, it is the right and duty of the officers to use the tasers on noncompliant, aggressive and combative persons. Those who oppose the use of tasers argue that the police are nonchalantly using them on pregnant women, young children and teens as well as the elderly. Should these categories of people be exempt from the law if they are posing a threat? Most would argue no and the inappropriate use of tasers such as those mentioned above generally reflects situations involving poor individual judgment. They do not characterize the vast majority of police officers carrying tasers.
About Our Contributors: Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C. was founded more than 75 years ago and is one of the largest plaintiffs’ personal injury law firms in the State. The Firm is departmentalized within specialized areas of plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation such as construction site, police brutality, fire, medical malpractice, motor vehicle, municipal, premises, and products liability cases. Within each department, litigation teams have been created and staffed to address issues that involve a specific area of the law. Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C., are leading P.I (personal injury) firm serving: Nassau County, Suffolk County and all upstate New York Counties. Leading New York Personal Injury Lawyers
