San Jose police given new rules on Taser stun guns

AP ^ | 11/30/5

[SmithL]

San Jose -- San Jose police officers were given strict new rules for using Taser stun guns on suspects, including warnings they should not shock handcuffed people, pregnant women, the elderly and children.

Under pressure from activists and city officials, Police Chief Rob Davis announced the new guidelines Tuesday, just hours before a City Council meeting on the weapons, and nearly two weeks after a report by the city's own police auditor urging more specific guidelines.

The council voted unanimously Tuesday to set a January deadline for Davis and auditor Barbara Attard to decide the best place to publish the new guidelines.

Davis defended the use of the devices, saying they have reduced police shootings and are saving lives. The new rules would not dramatically affect the way officers use the weapons, since there have been no recorded instances of officers using Tasers on pregnant women, elderly people or children, Davis said.

"The officers of San Jose do not have a blank check on how they use Tasers,"

[SmithL]

No more stuned beebers in San Jose. They'll just have to shoot non-compliant lawbreakers.

[Wolfie]

...including warnings they should not shock handcuffed people, pregnant women, the elderly and children.

Heck, that's gonna take all the fun out of it.

[rey]

I know a couple of officers in this area and SF. They are pretty demoralized about the state of affairs in the area. They say they are pretty much discouraged (officially) from enforcing many laws.

[HKMk23]

Officers had to be TOLD not to nail children, pregnant women and the elderly?! YGBKM!! What kind of badged Neanderthal would juice an old lady or a kid? So, then, since the answer to that question is, "I'm supremely insulted that you implied the existence of badged Neanderthals!" isn't this admonishment just a cheap slap in the face to the officers themselves; an insult to their intelligence?

Probably some leagel beagle made 'em do it. Seems like you have to state everything explicitly -- even things that are patently ludicrous -- all in the name of "CYA".

[ladyrustic]

Cops tasered a 5 year old handcuffed in the back seat of a cruiser, they tasered an old lady in front of her house... these are a couple of the stories I've read about in the past 2 years or so. So, apparently, cops do need to be told who not to taser...