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Of Articles Related To TASERs And Other “STUN” Devices
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Almost ALL of these articles are provided in PDF format.
If you don’t have an Adobe Acrobat PDF file READING program, you can download a FREE version HERE.
PDF files do NOT have a “return link” to this page.
You’ll have to use your BACK BUTTON to return here from there.
SO … “BOOKMARK” this page before you click on any link!
An animated Push Pin indicates an “Updated” or “OLD” article added to this Directory.
The last “old” article additions occurred in DECEMBER, 2007.
CHAS NOTES:
I don’t always have time to “review” each of the Taser-related articles I’ve posted here. Soooo …
To develop a TRUE understanding of the PROBLEMS
with the majority of TASER STUDY reports and articles, plz read
“The TRUTH About Tasers & Stun Guns” FIRST!
The TRUTH About Tasers® & Stun Guns
CITATION: Miller CD. The truth about deaths involving Tasers: Do Tasers kill?
The August 2006 update of a January, 2006 article.
http://www.charlydmiller.com/LIB07/2006AugTruthAboutTasers.pdf
The UPDATED version of this article was posted in August, 2006.
This article’s original version was posted on January 24, 2006.
Click here if you want to read the OLD (January 24, 2006) article.
The TASER Article Collection
Blood Factors of Sus scrofa Following a Series of
Three TASER® Electronic Control Device Exposures
CITATION: Jauchem JR, Cook MC, Beason CW. Blood factors of Sus scrofa
following a series of three TASER® electronic control device exposures.
Forensic Sci Int March 2008: V175; Issue2-3, Pages 166-170.
Transient increases in blood glucose, lactate, sodium, potassium, calcium,
and pCO2 were consistent with previous reports … it is unlikely that
this would be an indicator of any serious harm.
Like Jauchem et al’s previous Pig study, this one provides NO support for their
suggestion that is “safe” to subject human beings to Taser fires (whether or not
they are being subjected to forceful-prone-restraint before, during, or after Taser fires).
Thus, I did not BUY this article. If you buy it, send me its full pdf file, & I’ll post it.
This article’s ABSTRACT was originally posted February 11, 2008.
TASER “BLOGS”
The Physiologic Effects of a Conducted Electrical Weapon in Swine
Thoracic Compression Fractures as a Result of Shock From
Physiological Effects of a Conducted Electrical Weapon on Human Subjects
Acute Effects of TASER X26 Discharges in a Swine Model
Taser-Induced Rapid Ventricular Myocardial Capture
Intracranial Penetration of a TASER Dart
The New TASER; So Very Pretty In Pink!
Cardiac Electrophysiological Consequences of
Acidosis, Lactate, Electrolytes, Muscle Enzymes, and Other Factors in
Interesting Photos of TASER International’s Executives
Cardiovascular and Physiologic Effects of
Cardiac Monitoring of Human Subjects Exposed to the Taser
Can TASERS Directly Cause Ventricular Fibrillation?
USA: TASER-Related Deaths Increasingly Frequent.
Tasers Implicated in Excited Delirium Deaths
Study Raises Concerns Over Tasers' Safety
Taser International’s “Deadly Rhetoric” PROPAGANDA PAPER
167 Cases of Death Following Stun-Gun Use
Special Report; Stun Gun Under Fire
Electromuscular Incapacitating Device Safety
Shock Treatment: Why Are Officers Being Tased?
PERF Conducted Energy Device
Comparison of: PERF Conducted Energy Device Policy and
ACLU Study Finds Lack of Taser Stun Gun Regulation Threatens Lives
Stun Gun Fallacy: How The Lack of Taser Regulation Endangers Lives.
Ventricular Fibrillation after Stun-Gun Discharge
A MedPage Today News Article About Responses
Withdrawal of Taser Electroshock Devices:
Review of Conducted Energy Devices
Lethality of Taser Weapons
Restraint During TASER™ System Application
Taser Technology Review Final Report
“Use of Tasers by Selected Law Enforcement Agencies.”
The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine’s
Earnings Quality Analytics Research Report; TASER International, Inc
USA: Excessive and Lethal Force? Amnesty International's
CANADA: Excessive and Lethal Force? Amnesty International's
Taser International Report on In-Custody Deaths
Coroner: “Taser Pushed for Revision of Autopsy”
Archive Documents Demonstrating Publications Wherein
Taser Safety Claim Questioned;
As Police Use of Tasers Rises, Questions Over Safety Increase
Taser International Strongly Refutes New York Times Article
Taser International Demands Amnesty International
Taser International “Memorandum of Law.”
Archive Documents Demonstrating Publications Wherein
Police Shoot Teenager With Taser in USA
TASER International, Inc. Claims That Its Weapons Are “Absolutely the
On January 7, 2008, someone who runs what is currently called an “Excited Delirium Blog”
sent me a link to it. Upon visiting it, I discovered that it actually was a “TASER Blog” site.
Thereafter, I ended up doing some Net-surfing and discovered that there is
an amazing number of “TASER Blog” sites on the Internet!
The LINK above will take you to a page containing links to several of them
JUST to get you STARTED!
This page of Taser Blog Links was originally posted on January 7th, 2008.
OH! I put a LIST OF THE PROTOCOLS VITAL to
PREVENTING MORE TASER-RELATED DEATHS!
at the end of the ABOVE-LINKED “TASER BLOGS” PAGE!
CITATION: Esquivel AO, Dawe EJ, Sala-Mercado JA, Hammond RL, Bir CA.
The physiologic effects of a conducted electrical weapon in swine.
Ann Emerg Med, November 2007; V 50, No 5, Pgs 576-583.
The adverse physiologic effects discovered by this RESTED, HEALTHY PIG STUDY
represent SERIOUSLY LETHAL effects upon HUMAN BEINGS who are subjected to
REAL LIFE TASER FIRE incidents!
This article’s ABSTRACT was originally posted November 29, 2007.
a Conducted Energy Weapon [TASER]: A Case Report
CITATION: Winslow JE, Bozeman WP, Fortner MC, Alson RL. Thoracic compression
fractures as a result of shock from a conducted energy weapon: A case report.
Ann Emerg Med, November 2007; V 50, No 5, Pgs 584-586.
Though generally regarded as safe, conducted energy weapons can
produce injuries. In this case report we describe for the first time thoracic
spine compression fractures resulting from a [TASER] discharge.
These SPINE FRACTURES were suffered by a rested and HEALTHY 38-year-old
law enforcement officer, who VOLUNTEERED to be TASERed!
This article’s PDF file was originally posted November 29, 2007.Neuromuscular Effects of Stun Device Discharges
CITATION: Valentino DJ, Walter RJ, Dennis AJ, Nagy K, Loor MM, Winners J,
Bokhari F, Wiley D, Merchant A, Joseph K, Roberts R. Neuromuscular effects of
stun device discharges. J Surg Res, November 2007;143(1):78-87.
This study used the MK-63 STUN BATON (as opposed to a TASER, Inc. DEVICE)!
limitations: … (2) For ethical reasons, ketamine/xylazine anesthesia was used in this swine model.
Anesthesia precludes pain perception … Pain perception would undoubtedly alter some of the
responses reported here. (3) In the field, stun devices are used to subdue combative individuals
who are usually in a state of greatly increased sympathetic activity and, in many cases,
are under the influence of alcohol or other drugs that may alter the thresholds for dysrhythmia
and for pain. Under those conditions, the effects of MK63 discharges might deviate
considerably from those [reported] here. … Since previous animal studies of the TASER X26
showed some dramatic physiological changes, the present findings may be due to the
unique waveform and pulse power generated by the MK63 device, to differences in the
electrode spacing for the MK63 compared with the TASER X26, or differences between
the model systems. Further studies are needed
This article’s PDF file was originally posted December 28th, 2007.
With this – their third study report published in ONE YEAR – a new “GROUP”
of researchers has emerged: Valentino et al
Unfortunately, I worry that the Valentino et al group MAY be somehow …
“related” … to the manufacturer of the MK-63 STUN BATON.
I have absolutely NO “evidence” to suggest such a thing!
It’s just a suspicion.
SEE: Comparison of the 2007-Published Articles by Valentino et al
…and come to your OWN conclusion.
This Comparison Chart PDF file was originally posted December 28th, 2007.
CITATION: Vilke GM, Sloane CM, Bouton KD, Kolkhorst FW, Levine SD, Neuman TS,
Castillo EM, Chan TC. Physiological effects of a conducted electrical weapon on
human subjects. Ann Emerg Med, November 2007; V 50, No 5, Pgs 569-575.
Oh, surpriZe! – some Chan et al types TASERed HEALTHY and rested LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS,
and then concluded that the increased blood lactate & decreased pH their subjects suffered is something
that should NOT be considered “CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT.”
[Kinda’ makes you wonder who REALLY paid for this study, doesn’t it?]
This article’s ABSTRACT was originally posted November 29, 2007.
CITATION: Dennis AJ, Valentino DJ, Walter RJ, Nagy KK, Winners J, Bokhari F,
Wiley DE, Joseph KT, Roberts RR. Acute effects of TASER X26 discharges in a
swine model. J Trauma. September 2007;63:581–590.
Immediately after the [TASER] discharge, two deaths occurred because of VENTRICULAR
FIBRILLATION. … In this swine model, lengthy thoracic discharges from a TASER X26 produced
… cardiorespiratory dysfunction which, when coupled with intense muscle contractions,
resulted in SEVERE acidosis, tachycardia, hypotension, and sometimes FATAL VF.
[This Article is mentioned in Comparison of the 2007-Published Articles by Valentino et al]
This article’s PDF file was originally posted November 29, 2007.
Demonstrated by Pacemaker Intracardiac Electrograms
CITATION: Cao M, Shinbane JS, Gillberg JM, Saxon LA. Taser-induced rapid ventricular
myocardial capture demonstrated by pacemaker intracardiac electrograms.
J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. August 2007, Vol. 18, No. 8, pp. 876-879.
A 53-year-old man with a dual-chamber pacemaker … received a Taser shot … Stored event data
revealed two high ventricular rate episodes corresponding to the … Taser application. …
As structurally abnormal hearts may be further compromised by rapid ventricular
stimulation, Taser discharges could pose additional risk to those individuals who have
either a pacemaker or internal cardiac defibrillator.
Something these authors FAILED to mention: ANYONE with a “structurally abnormal heart” can be
“compromised” (injured!) by such TASER-induced “rapid ventricular stimulation” – even if they DON’T
have “a pacemaker or internal cardiac defibrillator” to SET THEM RIGHT afterward!
This article’s PDF file was originally posted November 29, 2007.
CITATION: Rehman T, Yonas H, Marinaro J. Intracranial penetration of a
TASER dart. Am J Emerg Med. July 2007;25(6): pgs 733.e3-733.e4
A 16-year-old boy was shot in the face with a Taser while resisting arrest.
One of the darts lodged in his skull and entered his brain.
This article’s ABSTRACT (sort of) was originally posted November 29, 2007.Repeated Thoracic Discharges From a Stun Device
CITATION: Valentino DJ, Walter RJ, Nagy K, Dennis AJ, Winners J, Bokhari F,
Wiley D, Joseph K, Roberts R. Repeated thoracic discharges from a stun device.
J Trauma May 2007;62(5):1134-1142.
This study used the MK-63 STUN BATON (as opposed to a TASER, Inc. DEVICE)!
These findings may differ from those seen with other EMI devices because of the
unique MK63 waveform characteristics or to specific characteristics of the model systems.
I wasn’t willing to pay $35 for this article. So, I’ve only posted its ABSTRACT.
[This Article is mentioned in Comparison of the 2007-Published Articles by Valentino et al]
This article’s ABSTRACT was originally posted December 28th, 2007.Letter to the Editor Regarding; Acidosis, Lactate, Electrolytes, Muscle Enzymes,
and Other Factors in the Blood of Sus Scrofa Following Repeated TASER®
Exposures. [And an Article Author’s REPLY.]
CITATION: Miller CD. Letter to the editor regarding; Acidosis, lactate, electrolytes,
muscle enzymes, and other factors in the blood of Sus scrofa following repeated
TASER® exposures. [And an article author’s reply.]
Forensic Sci Int 3 May 2007: V168; Issue(1), Pages e17-e18[e19]
I had to pay $30 to obtain the PUBLISHED version of my own letter! That document
did not include an Article Author’s REPLY page. Since there is no way in hell that I’m
going to pay another $30 to buy the published version of an Article Author’s reply, I
have posted the “Article In Press” version of Jauchem’s reply. (There is no reason to suspect
that his reply would have been changed in any way prior to publication.)
My REVIEW of Jauchem’s REPLY is included in this PDF document!
The “Article In Press” version of my Editor Letter was originally posted in February 2007.
The final (May-published) version of my letter was posted in June 2007.
A collection of 2 Associated Press articles and 2 New York Times articles
published on January 8th and 9th, 2007.
The new weapon's introduction comes after a weekend that saw
two people die after police shocked them with Taser devices.
This file was originally posted in February, 2007.
Neuromuscular Incapacitating Device Discharges
CITATION: Nanthakumar K, Billingsley IM, Masse S, Dorian P, Cameron D,
Chauhan VS, Downar E, Sevaptsidis E. Cardiac electrophysiological consequences of
neuromuscular incapacitating device discharges.
J Am Coll Cardiol, August 2006;48(4):798-804
In an experimental model, NID [neuromuscular incapacitating device] discharges across
the chest can produce cardiac stimulation at high rates. This study suggests that NIDs
may have cardiac risks that require further investigation in humans.
The PDF file of this report was originally posted in September, 2006.
the Blood of Sus Scrofa [PIGS] Following Repeated TASER® Exposures*
CITATION: Jauchem JR, Sherry CJ, Fines DA and Cook MC.
Acidosis, lactate, electrolytes, muscle enzymes, and other factors in the
blood of Sus scrofa following repeated TASER® exposures.
Forensic Sci Int; 10 August 2006: V161; Issue(1);pgs 20-30.
This study discovered that rested and anesthetized pigs suffered:
• “severe acidemia” for at least an hour after TASER exposure
• “increases in hematocrit, potassium, and sodium” for at least 30 minutes
post TASER exposure
• “significantly decreased” oxygen saturation “immediately after” being TASED,
that “returned to pre-exposure levels within 30 min.”
Considering those very important findings, imagine how much MORE
acidemia, electrolyte imbalance, and decreased oxygen saturation would be suffered by a
TASED HUMAN BEING who had been extremely exerting her/himself prior to TASER
exposure, AND extremely exerting her/himself during the struggle and forceful restraint
that occurred after being shot with a TASER!
This article was originally posted in August of 2006.
An UPDATED version was posted in February 2007.
OK! I admit it! I don’t know where these pictures came from!
They may NOT be “legitimate” – though, it wouldn’t surpriZe me if they were!
ONE thing is for sure: They are a HOOT!!!
This file was originally posted in the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on August 10, 2006.
Conducted Electrical Weapon Discharge in Resting Adults
CITATION: Ho JD, Miner JR, Lakireddy DR, Bultman LL, Heegaard WG.
Cardiovascular and physiologic effects of conducted electrical weapon discharge in
resting adults. Acad Emerg Med (June) 2006; Vol. 13, No. 6, pgs 589-595.
In this resting adult population, the TASER X26 CEW did not affect the recordable
cardiac electrical activity within a 24-hour period following a standard five-second
application. … We recommend further study in the area of the ICD phenomenon to
better understand its causes.
Ah. A “RESTING ADULT POPULATION” study!
Do the findings reported by this study relate – at all – to the “real life” circumstances
wherein a Taser is deployed? NO. They DON’T.
Furthermore, PLZ note that this study was
Supported in part by TASER International (Scottsdale, AZ),
manufacturer of the conducted electrical weapon in question.
Hey! At least these authors retained a modicum of “INTEGRITY”
by recommending “further study” in their conclusion!
This article was originally posted in August, 2006.
CITATION: Levine SD, Sloane C, Chan TC, Vilke GM, Dunford J.
Cardiac monitoring of human subjects exposed to the Taser.
Acad Emerg Med (May) 2006; Vol.13, No. 5: Supplement pg S47- a.
Other than an increase in heart rate, there were no cardiac dysrhythmia or ECG
morphology changes in human subjects who received a Taser shock. The clinical
implications of these findings require further investigation.
In their poster presentation abstract, these authors entirely neglected to identify that their
study subjects were HEALTHY and RESTED individuals. Such a neglect is not at all
surpriZing, considering the association of Ye Olde “Chan et al” group with this study.
But, at least one or more of the other authors successfully argued to retain a
bit of “INTEGRITY” by recommending “further investigation” in their conclusion!
This PRESENTATION ABSTRACT was originally posted in August, 2006.
CITATION: Will JA, Honyu J-YW, O’Rourke A, Webster JG. Can TASERS directly cause ventricular fibrillation?
2006 Experimental Biology Meeting, April 1-5, 2006; Abstract #327.
Previous pig studies placed the dart on the intact chest wall and the heart was then
separated from the heart by a fat and muscle layer which is not as thick in the human.
Our model will more closely provide a basis to correlate studies in the 2 species.
Because the currently available file is of this report’s presentation POSTER,
it has an odd layout and very small print. So, I copied and pasted all it’s portions into
the file linked above, making it easier to read and print. I had to rearrange
things here and there. But, none of its content has been altered.
To see the actual file for this report’s POSTER PRESENTATION, go to:
POSTER of “Can TASERS Directly Cause Ventricular Fibrillation?”
The poster can also be found on line at:
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/bme/faculty/webster_john/EB2006Final.pdf
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION in August, 2006.
Amnesty International; March 28, 2006.
This report was originally posted in February, 2007.
This is an incredible EXTERNAL LINK!:
The above link will take you to a fantastic DIRECTORY PAGE of MULTIPLE
“Law Enforcement Agency Policies” DIRECTORY PAGES
that I found on August 10, 2006. On that date, the most recently added link
on the page I first visited was dated March, 15, 2006. Thus, I’ve posted this link in that
date’s “order” on my TASER & RA LIBRARY directories. However, some directories
linked on this site contain newer articles. And, ALL directories on this cite likely will be
periodically updated. So, it would be smart to periodically check this cite for NEW stuff.
Most of the LINKS on the first Directory Page I found
appear to relate to TASER PROTOCOLS!
This website was created by the Less Lethal Working Group (LLWG) to assist
local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in developing, implementing and
enhancing policies governing the use of less lethal technologies. The site is hosted by the
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) … Other agencies in the group
include: the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA);
the Major City Police Chiefs Association; the National Sheriffs Association (NSA),
the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP);
Montgomery County Police, Maryland; the Police Foundation, Community Policing
Consortium, & the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
Can we say, “WOW!”? I think we can!
This external link was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION in August, 2006.
(Part Two of a two-part news report about excited delirium.)
[For some unknown reason, I couldn’t create a PDF file from the MSWord doc I
cut-&-pasted the info from this article’s website to! So, I had to create one from the
WEBPAGE. All the ADS and extraneous LINKS are in this document. If you print it,
do NOT print the pages with only that kind of krappe.]
CITATION: Sullivan L. Tasers implicated in excited delirium.
NPR: All Things Considered, Feb 27, 2006:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7622314
Civil-liberties groups fear that the diagnosis is being used to cover up police
abuse — and to protect companies like Taser International from lawsuits. … As
several officers hold Williams down, he is stunned six more times. A few minutes later,
the officers realize Williams is not breathing. … Taser International spokesman Steve
Tuttle acknowledges that each year, his company sends hundreds of pamphlets to
medical examiners explaining how to detect excited delirium.
Even though these are “news reports,” and don’t clearly discuss the manner of
restraint employed, they do a pretty good job of demonstrating the motivations of people
who seek to absolve restrainers from responsibility for causing asphyxial death.
This article was originally posted on July 11, 2007.
CITATION: Anglen R. Study raises concerns over Tasers' safety.
The Arizona Republic; Feb 13, 2006.
A study measuring electric shocks from a Taser stun gun found that it was 39 times
more powerful than the manufacturer claimed, raising new questions about the weapon's safety.
The article this news story refers to is on its way to ME & this LIBRARY!
This article was originally posted to the RA Library TASER COLLECTION on February 17, 2006.
CITATION: Taser International. Deadly rhetoric: How the ACLU of Northern California’s fight
against law enforcement control tools endangers communities. January 20, 2006.
http://www.taser.com/savinglives/documents/Deadly%20Rhetoric%20V12.pdf
[The above title suggests that this Taser Propaganda Paper was written in response to
“Stun Gun Fallacy: How The Lack of Taser Regulation Endangers Lives.”
That article is found below, in the September 2005 area.]
Can we say, “Taser International is scrambling to ensure continued sales of
their product?” I think we can. Can we also say that, “Taser International only wants
attention paid to studies they’ve bought-and-paid-for when arguing that their product is
safe?” Oh, yeah.
Thankfully, if you’ve already read the unbiased reports of Taser-related
deaths (such as the Arizona Republic & Amnesty International reports above & below),
when you read TI’s Deadly Rhetoric propaganda paper you will recognize how TI’s
arguments that Tasers are “safer” for a “medically-compromised” person because the
“only” alternative would be to SHOOT the person, are entirely without merit.
First of all, the majority of Taser-related deaths have occurred subsequent to
the Taser FAILING to “stop” the person’s dangerous or threatening activity.
Secondly, when a Taser fire (or 2, or 3-to-10 Taser fires) fails to
stop someone’s dangerous or threatening activity, officers always have the option of just
leaving the subject alone! (What a concept!) Officers can simply remove
themselves and all others from the “range” of danger, until a sufficient number of trained
and educated restrainers is available to safely restrain the “erratic,
dangerous, and violent” individual.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION in August, 2006.
CITATION: Anglen R. 167 cases of death following stun-gun use.
The Arizona Republic; Jan. 5, 2006 01:20 PM.
This is the first article link provided in the Arizona Central dot com’s
Special Report collection of Taser-related article links (below).
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on January 24, 2006.
This is a collection of Taser-related article links assembled by Arizona Central dot com,
and published on their website on Jan 5, 2006.
Each of the links within the pdf file should open the corresponding webpage.
Just in case they don’t, here is the web address of the directory:
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/taser/
This directory pdf file was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on January 24, 2006.
CITATION: Sun H, Wu J-Y, Abdallah R, Webster JG.
Electromuscular incapacitating device safety. IFMBE Proc. EMBEC’05, (November) Vol. 11(1).
[IFMBE = the International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering
EMBEC = European Medical & Biological Engineering Conference
[I don’t know whether this presentation was ever published.
It was obtained from one of the authors’ website:
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/bme/faculty/webster_john/EMD-safety.pdf]
Electrical tissue properties vary with locations in the body. The Taser waveforms
could vary with different Tasers, and different individual Taser impulses. We just used
one waveform as an example. These limitations may lead to misleading model results,
which have to be considered if models are to be used to predict the safe dart-to-heart distance.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION in August, 2006.
Some Say Training Practice Should Be Stopped
CITATION: Denver Channel 7 News Story: “Shock treatment: Why are officers being tased?
Some say training practice should be stopped” November 9, 2005.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/7newsinvestigates/5291585/detail.html
Perry said the five second Taser jolt sent him to the hospital where doctors treated him
for a variety of injuries, including a broken back. Perry said he was told that a Taser
could not injure him. … The logic is that taking a Taser hit will improve an officers
confidence in the weapon, create a better understanding of its power and make the officer
more credible in the courtroom during a trial. … "There's no value added. There's
absolutely zero value added in subjecting a police officer to that type of risk. It's not
done with conventional weapons," said forensic engineer James Ruggieri.
Quite the point! How many Officers are trained to shoot a GUN by first
being required to experience being SHOT by one?!
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on February 18, 2006.
Policy and Training Guidelines for Consideration
CITATION: Police Executive Research Forum [PERF].
PERF conducted energy device policy and training guidelines for consideration.
Website: www.policeforum.org; Oct 25, 2005.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on January 24, 2006.
Training Guidelines for Consideration
[with] MNPD Policy, Procedure, or Training
CITATION: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department [MNPD].
Comparison of: PERF conducted energy device policy and training guidelines for
consideration & MNPD policy, procedure, or training.
http://police.nashville.org/news/media/2005/10/PERF_Comparison_10-27_2_.pdf
PERF allows use on subjects who are exhibiting “physically evasive movements”
or “verbally signaling an intention to avoid or prevent” where MNPD requires resistive
movements or physical defiance.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION in August, 2006.
American Civil Liberties Union; October 06, 2005.
http://www.charlydmiller.com/LIB08/2005OctACLUtaserRegulationLack.pdf
“The lack of regulation of Tasers is very disturbing in light of the increasing
number of deaths associated with its use,” Schlosberg said. “We fear that in the absence
of strong regulations on how police use the weapon, we are likely to see more
unnecessary deaths.” … Even more disturbing is the finding that only four departments
restrict the number of times an officer may fire a Taser at a suspect. Several of the
California victims were Tased repeatedly before they died, including Andrew
Washington of Vallejo, who was Tased 17 times in three minutes. … “Certainly, the
failure of many in law enforcement to ask tough questions about Tasers is partly to
blame,” Schlosberg said. “But Taser International is also responsible because its
questionable marketing practices and exaggerated safety claims provide the basis for
local police policy.”
This report was originally posted in February, 2007.
CITATION: [Title as Above] ACLU of Northern California, September, 2005.
http://www.aclunc.org/issues/criminal_justice/police_practices/asset_upload_file384_3131.pdf
OR, http://www.charlydmiller/LIB08/2005SeptemberACLUofNCTaserStudy.pdf
Others groups against whom police should never use a Taser are those who
are already restrained (i.e. handcuff ed), and those who are unconscious.
What a concept! LOL
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
CITATION: Kim PJ, Franklin WH. Ventricular fibrillation after stun-gun discharge.
N Engl J Med Sep 2005;353(9):958-959.
“An adolescent was subdued with a Taser stun gun and subsequently collapsed.
Paramedics found the adolescent to be in ventricular fibrillation …”
The “contact author” of this letter to the editor is listed as
Wayne H. Franklin, M.D. (wfranklin@childrensmemorial.org)
I Emailed him on Sep 1st, 2005, asking if a full “Case Report” of this incident would be
written and submitted for publication. He replied that “other authors” were submitting
it, and that he was no longer involved. I asked him to forward to them my request to be
notified about its publication. He wrote back saying that he had done so, but that
“Whether they respond or not, I cannot say.” They never responded.
And, to date, I haven’t found it published in full.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on September 1, 2005.
to the Ventricular Fibrillation after Stun-Gun Discharge Letter
CITATION: Osterweil, N. Stun gun sends teen’s heart into ventricular fibrillation.
MedPage Today; September 02, 2005:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Arrhythmias/tb/1654
At a meeting of the Academy of Forensic Sciences in February, electrical engineer
James Ruggieri made a presentation in which he said that the electrical output of Taser's
M26 model succeeds the fibrillation threshold for half the U.S. population.
Well, of course TASER responded by stating that Ruggieri’s report was
“erroneous,” and that “A number of independent reviews have affirmed the life-saving
value of TASER as a safer, effective non-lethal use of force.” But, whether or not ANY
review cited by TASER to support its product was “independent” has frequently been
challenged. (TASER paid for the supportive reviews.)
This news article was originally posted to the
RA Library TASER COLLECTION in August, 2006.
Too Much, Too Soon
CITATION: Bozeman WP. Correspondence; Withdrawal of taser electroshock devices:
Too much, too soon. Ann Emerg Med September, 2005; 46(3):300-1.
“Withdrawal of Taser and other similar electroshock devices because of a flurry of media
attention rather than an analysis of scientific data would be a mistake. … That said,
the available safety data for these commonly used devices are clearly inadequate. … The
medical community should advocate the immediate funding of well-designed
objective assessments of the safety and health effects of these devices.”
Hello. What part of his own statement,
[“the available safety data for these commonly used devices are clearly inadequate”]
is this letter author missing? Apparently, Bozeman believes that devices associated with
hundreds of deaths since their use began, should REMAIN in use until AFTER someone
conclusively “proves” that they are “not safe.”
Not only is that kind of attitude “bass-akwards” – it is dangerous!
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on February 4, 2006.
CITATION: Canadian Police Research Center. Technical Report TR-01-2006
Review of conducted energy devices. August 22, 2005.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on January 24, 2006.
CITATION: Ruggieri JA. Lethality of taser weapons. July 28, 2005.
http://www.charlydmiller.com/LIB07/2005Jul28TaserLethality.pdf
In most all of the low energy electrocutions addressed by this author, if an electrical
connection has been established, and no other evidence of physical trauma was present,
the medical examiners often ruled death by electric shock, irrespective of any latent
condition, illness, drugs or alcohol later found in the patient.
Dr. Zian Tseng, a San Francisco cardiologist that routinely stops the heart using electric
current as a precursor to implanting electric defibrillators believes Tasers to be potentially
dangerous. Tseng likens Taser use to a game of Russian Roulette, since the Taser current
may strike during the heart’s vulnerable period.
This is an excellent report! Unfortunately, like all other reports related to Taser deaths
(as of July, 2005), its author was limited by the frequent failure of investigators to
“rule out” restraint asphyxia as the cause of death prior to blaming the death on the
Taser (or something else). Of all the cases discussed in this report, only ONE
identified the manner of restraint as having been investigated: [My underline]
“After being ‘tased’ a second time, he dropped to the ground, still wrestling with police; shortly thereafter, he [died]. … The final autopsy report confirmed the cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia in the setting of acute psychosis during restraint, and the death determined to be a homicide. ... The medical examiner concluded that the Taser did not contribute to Wolle’s death.”
I agree with the medical examiner absolving Taser use (on this date), and applaud his
honesty in assigning “homicide” as the manner of death. However, for some unknown
reason his cause of death wording was rather surreptitious. It is more likely than not, that
the “cardiac arrhythmia” occurred only after forceful-prone-restraint caused respiratory
arrest. Certainly the “psychosis” didn’t kill him.
Thus, “restraint asphyxia” should have been identified as the ultimate cause of death.
I know. Yada, yada, blah, blah, woof. Yes, I’m picky.
NO, I’m not a “promoter” of Taser use! But, until Taser researchers can consistently cite
cases wherein restraint asphyxia was clearly RULED-OUT before blaming the Taser for
causing a death, I’m going to believe that the RESTRAINT caused the death
– not the Taser.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION February 18, 2006.
TASER International Training Bulletin 12.0 – 04 June 28, 2005
“As a manufacturer, TASER International, Inc. (‘TI’) provides relevant technical
information on the operation of its devices through its training programs. However, TI
does not make policy recommendation on law enforcement tactics or use-of-force
guidelines other than general recommendations associated with the operating parameters
of TI brand devices.”
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on January 24, 2006.
CITATION: Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner,
Victoria, British Columbia, CANADA.
Taser technology review final report. OPCC File Number 2474; June 14, 2005.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION on January 24, 2006.
US Government Accountability Office; Report to the Chairman, Subcommittee on
National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, Committee on
Government Reform, House of Representatives; May 2005 TASER WEAPONS.
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
Position, on Whether TASER® Electro Muscular Incapacitation Launched
Electrode Stun Weapons are Safe to Use on
U.S. Army Military and Civilian Personnel During Training
Citation: Memorandum: [above title here]. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
US ARMY CENTER FOR HEALTH PROMOTION AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
07 February 2005.
http://www.charlydmiller.com/LIB07/2005Feb7USArmyRecommendations.pdf
Recommendations: Data indicates that the use of Tasers as a [Non-Lethal Weapon] by
U.S. Army military and civilian forces is feasible and effective. The practice of using
these weapons on U.S. Army military and civilian forces in training is not recommended
given the potential risks.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION February 18, 2006.
CITATION: Earnings Quality Analytics Research Report;
TASER International, Inc. (TASR); January 21, 2005. By Gradient Analytics, Inc.
http://www.charlydmiller.com/LIB07/2005Jan21GradientTaserResearchReport.pdf
Earnings Quality Grade: F … The results of this analysis lend further support to our
theory that TASR faces an unusually high level of earnings quality risk at the present time.
This “Earnings Report” attributes TASR’s new earnings RISK to the discovery of biased
researchers having performed the clinical study that “has been provided by TASR management
as evidence that its guns are safe.” Poor TASR! Right.
This article was originally posted to the RA Library
TASER COLLECTION February 18, 2006.
Concerns About Deaths and Ill-Treatment Involving Tasers.
CITATION: [Title as Above] AI Index: AMR 51/139/2004. 30 November, 2004.
This 94-page report was found in January 2006 at this address:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AMR511392004ENGLISH/$File/AMR5113904.pdf
And, in February 2007 at this address:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr511392004
This report was originally posted here on January 24, 2006.
Concerns About Deaths and Ill-Treatment Involving Tasers.
CITATION: [Title as Above] AI Index: AMR20/002/2004. 30 November, 2004.
http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/AMR200022004ENGLISH/$File/AMR2000204.pdf
This article was originally posted on January 24, 2006.Recommendations Regarding Taser Use
CITATION: Scholsberg, M. Recommendations regarding Taser use.
September 21, 2004 ACLU of Northern California letter to San Francisco Police Commission.
http://www.cprc.org/docs/aclu.pdf OR:
http://www.charlydmiller/LIB08/2004SepACLUtaserRecommendations.doc
In light of the yet unanswered questions regarding the safety of tasers –
particularly when used on individuals under the influence of drugs or with preexisting
heart conditions – we urge you to follow the lead of the police forces in the United
Kingdom and only authorize taser use in cases where deadly force would otherwise be
authorized or where there is an imminent threat to human life.
Scholsberg & the ACLU had it RIGHT way back in September, 2004.
They weren’t “against” Tasers, back then! They were simply concerned about the lack of
guidance and research that Taser International provided for Taser purchasers.
Yet, not only did Taser International ignore their suggestions in 2004, Taser International
STILL ignores their suggestions in 2007. Oh, surpriZe.
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
A Taser International report accessible on September 3, 2004, that was
removed from Taser’s website after Mark Scholsberg’s September 21, 2004 letter.
In the words of Scholsberg: When Taser has reported on in-custody deaths and the
effects of tasers on overall departmental use of force, the information has sometimes
been incomplete or misleading.
That was a VERY kindly-worded UNDERstatement!
Taser International EXCELS at misleading customers, investors, & investigators.
In fact, Taser International is “proud” of being able to do that! After all, over the years
TASER has demonstrated that they clearly have no moral or ethical concern about people
being killed by their product. TASER’s big concern has always been to protect their
sales profits. And, as long as Taser International can keep profiting from the sale of their
product, they have no “reason” – whatsoever – to pursue
authentic scientific proof of its safety or dangerousness.
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
CITATION: Robert Anglen; [Title above]. The Arizona Republic, August 25, 2004.
A South Carolina coroner says stun-gun manufacturer Taser International
is pressuring his office to reverse an autopsy that found a Taser contributed to the
death of a man last week. Anderson County Deputy Coroner Charlie Boseman said a
shock from a Taser was the "last straw" for a man who died Aug. 16 in a struggle
with deputies at a detention center.
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
Taser International Claims That Their Weapon is NON-LETHAL
Documents from August 05, 2003 to August 05, 2004.
This document collection was originally posted in February, 2007.
Medical Examiners Connect Stun Gun to 5 Deaths
CITATION: Robert Anglen; Taser safety claim questioned.
The Arizona Republic July 18, 2004.
Thousands of police departments, including every major law enforcement
agency in the Valley, buy Tasers on a claim that the electric stun guns will instantly take
down suspects without inflicting harm. That assertion of safety has generated record
sales for Scottsdale's Taser International Inc., which markets its guns as alternatives to
deadly force and says its goal is to arm every police officer in America. But an Arizona
Republic investigation has revealed that Taser's claims are based on autopsy reports the
company never possessed.
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
CITATION: Alex Berenson; [Title Above]. New York Times, July 18, 2004.
The company's primary safety studies on the M26, which is far more powerful
than other stun guns, consist of tests on a single pig in 1996 and on five dogs in 1999.
Company-paid researchers, not independent scientists, conducted the studies, which were
never published in a peer-reviewed journal. The few independent studies that have
examined the Taser have found that the weapon's safety is unproven at best. Over all,
Taser has significantly overstated the weapon's safety, say biomedical engineers who
separately examined the company's research at the request of The New York Times.
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
Company Stands Behind Safety of Taser Conducted Energy Weapons
CITATION: Taser International Press Release; July 19, 2004
Originally Internet-Posted at: http://www.taser.com/NYT/taser_nyt.html
OH, SurpriZe! That page is no longer available on Taser International’s
“Customer” Website. Thankfully, I found a copy of that Press Release on a
Taser International Investor Relations webpage:
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=129937&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=592147&highlight=%20(1%20of%205)
This Taser Investor Relations Press Release was originally posted in February, 2007.
Withdraw Its Misleading and Defamatory Statements.
Calls for Amnesty International to Provide Factual Support for Its Allegations, or
Immediately and Publicly Withdraw Them
CITATION: Taser International Investor Relations Press Release; June 2, 2004.
[I cannot find the AI statement that Taser is complaining about in this Press Release.
And, of course, Taser doesn’t provide a reference for it.]
This Taser Press Release was originally posted in February, 2007.
CITATION: Taser International “Memorandum of Law.” May 3, 2004:
http://www.taser.com/documents/memorandumoflaw.doc
A TASER conducted energy weapon is not classified as firearm by the Federal Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives since it uses compressed nitrogen gas as the
propellant. Therefore, firearms-related regulations do not apply to the sale and
distribution of the TASER conducted energy weapon within the United States.
Basically, this “memo” is an attempt by TASER International to provide attorneys with
“directions” for how to defend Taser-users against wrongful death litigation. In doing so,
however, TASER has also provided plaintiffs’ attorneys with identification of some
arguments that need to be defeated, in order to successfully litigate Taser-users!
This article was originally posted in August, 2006.
Taser International Claims That Their Weapon is NON-LETHAL
Documents from August 05, 2003 to August 05, 2004.
[This is the SAME document file that was posted in the August 2004 section above!]
This document collection was originally posted in February, 2007.
Amnesty International; February 2003.
http://web.amnesty.org/wire/February2003/Taser OR
http://www.charlydmiller.com/LIB08/2003FebChiquitaHammonds.pdf
Law enforcement officers continue to use electro-shock weapons despite no
independent inquiry into their effects. … Chiquita Hammond’s case is just one of a
number of situations where police appear to have deployed Taser guns in unjustified
circumstances. Officers have been known to use Taser guns on people already in custody.
In another incident in Miramar, an officer used a Taser gun on a woman who, while
already handcuffed and placed in the back of a patrol car, was kicking the windows and
spitting on officers. … The use of these painful weapons in the case of an unarmed child
constitutes an excessive and disproportionate use of force
THREE police officers were present. They PEPPER SPRAYED and then TASERED
an unarmed, 15 year-old girl. The local prosecutor “investigated” the incident, and
determined that the THREE officers had handled the arrest of an unarmed, 15 year-old girl
“correctly,” and that the THREE officers had NOT used “excessive force.” Incredible – eh?!
This article was originally posted in February, 2007.
[I haven’t run into any 2002-published Taser-related articles.]
best NON-LETHAL protection for your home, business and auto.
Taser Weapons provide extremely effective 50,000 Volt personal protection.”
This is a collection of the Taser.Com site’s “home pages” – found on an Internet
ARCHIVE Site – posted between October 3rd, 1999 and April 1st, 2001.
This collection was originally posted in February, 2007.
To Return To Wherever You Came From
OR Use the Following Links:
Email Charly at: c-d-miller@neb.rr.com
(Those are hyphens/dashes between the “c” and “d” and “miller”)