Globe Feb 2011: "The American Civil Liberties Union has expressed its opposition to Taser use. Christopher Ott, communications director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said his organization argues the characterization of Tasers as nonlethal weapons is misleading. “They can in fact kill,’’ Ott said. “Since 2001, 300 people [nationwide] who were Tased died.’’

That number didn't include 2 new deaths reported in the Globe and who knows how many others:

"NEW YORK Prisoner stunned in his cell by Taser dies WEST BABYLON — A New York man in custody after a dispute with his neighbor was stunned twice with a Taser gun in a prison cell and died, police said. Suffolk County... (Page A3, 274 words)
Date: May 8, 2011
www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/05/08/gop_rushes_agenda_items_before_r...
WATERBURY, Conn.: Man dies after police use Taser on him
...in custody in Waterbury shortly after police say they used a Taser to subdue him. Police said the man, whose name has not been...placed in a cruiser. The man continued to be combative and the Taser was used, according to police. He became unresponsive, police... (Page B2, 105 words)
Date: May 2, 2011
www.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2011/05/02/man_dies_after_police...

I have seen all these stories. The man I quote is one of the American Civil Lberties Union's top lawyers. The other cases, when they came to sue Taser, Inc., they LOST. I read through dozens of stories, and talked to many people. After I learned the facts, my mind changed on the whole thing. I started out against Tasers, for financial and ethical reasons. When I learned the truth, I began to support them. It saves much money and pain for our officers (in overtime and medical costs), and helps protect criminals and residents (when used appropriately, and under strict guidelines outlined in a required policy that must be approved by the Mass. Dept of Public Safety and Security.

Cops will think twice when more and more "civilians" have these and USE them on COPS.
I have seen cops out playing around with these things tasing SQUIRRELS for fun.

COPS ARE IDIOTS AND a weapon like this is being abused regularly by them. If I ever have a chance...
trust me I WILL disarm and harm any cop I know is misusing these torturous devices.

Excellent reporting. The Greenwood endorsement is compelling. There's no simple middle way. An officer supplied with a taser may be more likely to use a higher degree of force than necessary to subdue someone (why wrestle when you can reach for the taser?); on the other hand, an officer supplied with a taser may be far less likely to reach for the automatic. Looking at it from that perspective, I believe I'd support this. (Changing my mind too).

The dollar amount shouldn't play any role. If this program ever prevents so much as one life lost or serious injury sustained, it's well worth it

When have u seen a cop tasing squirrels? seriously give me a break. The cops should have any tool that will help protect them and the public!

Dear Mark,
So your aware, the ACLU is officially opposed to the use of Tasers because of it's significant number or related deaths.
Also, the two new area deaths copied above just occured this month so they have not been litigated and their investigations remain open. I didn't even google anything prior. Safe to say to date, both individuals were perceived to be in good health prior to the tasing and died immediately after being tased.
I have also reviewed and researched taser use and most I could locate is from industry advocates and police. I have had very little success locating actual case language with findings and the vast majority of litigation seems to be pending; neither settled or closed with verdict.

DJ, both of your links point to pages that cannot be found. The reason for that is that the stories were pulled, after legal action was filed by Taser, Inc. Overall, I think the ACLU is a left-wing organization, which protects the rights of criminals, terrorists, and others who are more righteous. But, I found this lawyer, who represents them in many civil rights case, to have more credibility than the group itself. But, we all can agree to disagree. As I mentioned, I was quite opposed to this article when I first saw it. I can understand that others could feel that way.

That is completely untrue. I just went to Boston.com and pulled them again. More important, a brand new story was found: As of today, May 18th, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the jury verdict of wrongful death suit against Taser Inc. in the amount of 1 M and 5.2 M in punitive damages stemming from Robert C. Heston (Plaintiff) , who died in February 2005 after being shocked by Salinas police with a Taser weapon. The Appeals court also awarded 1.5 in legal costs to the plaintiff.
Because of the increase in deaths since 2008 to more then 5 per month and the riddled litigation, some cities are beginning to actually abandon tasers and stun guns for other options, such as Las Vagas, Nashville and San Fransisco.
I looked this up twice in the past six months but today my research is bringing up all kinds of new incidents and litigation. It's growing in the wrong direction of safety.

Here is another one from the First Circuit Court right here in Boston just last week:
March 13, 2010
Officer loses appeal in Taser excessive-force caseThis is a 6-60-1 dummy headyne yyyyy
By TREVOR MAXWELL Staff Writer

— By TREVOR MAXWELL

Staff Writer

A panel of federal judges in Boston has upheld a lower court ruling that a South Portland police officer used excessive force when he shot a man with a Taser stun gun in July 2005.

Why all the debate over taser safety? Isn't the issue before town meeting on the FUNDING of tasers, not the approval/permission for their use? Surely the police department does not need town meeting approval for how they practise their job. My question is why do they need this additional funding and why wasn't it a part of the original police department budget? Seems to me that they must have a weapons and materials budget already and it would be up to the department to determine the best way to use that money. I don't get understand why this is a separate issue. Someone please enlighten me!

DJ, wierd why those articles came up without links. But, I noticed all the cases were circa 2005. And, again, there hasn't been a single case where someone without pre-existing conditions was killed by a Taser, and someone was crminally charged or was ordered to pay restitution, As for Sarah's question, it's a good one. I guess in these days of level-funded budgets, there wasn't wiggle room for new weapons. But, additional funds were made available by the state after the budget process. And, you are correct, if Chief Shastany wants to use Tasers, he can, after getting his Taser policy approved by the State agency that oversees safety and security. Town Meeting doesn't run the police department.

Great question Sarah. The short answer is that they do not have the money in their budget accept they hope to be able to cover the training needs within their current budget. That said, they are seeking monies via a borrowing article from TM. TM has a right to vote on borrowing articles in any manner they see fit, which is to say that they can vote the article up or down based on their personal opinion and support of the need. We would all hope that those votes are consistent with information provided, but the "facts" provided to date have already changed since the article was first submitted. The Chief argued that the use of tasers would decrease the Town's exposure to litigation and provide a safe tool to the officers, but as use increases, so does litigation and the results are beginning to be realized. Do we want to move foreward at this point when so much seems to be in transition with this technology?

I meant criminally CONVICTED, not charged.

Oops, not positive this is a borrowing article, but the funding type would be listed in the language of the article if you have a TM book.

A longer column on this subject is up at

http://www.snydersstoughton.com/news.htm

Town Meeting voted 113-3 in favor of borrowing $67,500 to buy 45 Tasers for the Stoughton Police Department. It's a shocking development for criminal-types.

thanks to useless human rights advocates, criminal defenders and people whining when cops use tasers and any other force on scumbags now more freeloading scum criminals can commit serious crimes with confidents of knowing that no harm will come them even if they resist or fight the cops. the scum when caught and charged with the crimes they get their charges reduced, spend little time in a joke jail that clothes and feeds these idiots on tax payers money and get out to do it again. i consider the justice system and how people treat criminals a joke. i don't care about police brutality, there should be more of it. if you break the law, resist or fight cops then it should be time you get taught a good lesson and perhaps you'll think twice before beating somebody in a walmart parking lot for his or her money.

Have you considered anger management Mike?
FYI: Many criminals have abusive upbringings. Tasers don't teach and abuse does not curb bad behavior. I'm sure given all the right components, tasers are a helpful tool, but we don't live in a perfect world. This year old warrant article passed by the way. The Chief decided against them at a later due to new information/court rulings.