Item B: Eugene Police Department Taser Policy

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height, operating vehicles, in or near a pool or body of water) Exceptions that would permit the discharge of the Taser in these circumstances are: The person is armed with a dangerous weapon; The person is in imminent danger of harming himself/herself; or The person cannot be safely controlled with other available force options. (b) A Taser shall not be discharged against persons engaged only in passive or static resistance. (c) A Taser shall not be discharged at a demonstration or other event for crowd control purposes. (d) The Taser will not be discharged against a handcuffed or secured prisoner, absent overtly assaultive, self-destructive, or violently resistive behavior that cannot reasonably be addressed by other less intrusive and readily available means. Officers discharging the Taser against a restrained individual should consider using the Taser in “drive stun” mode and only to the extent required to gain control of the person. (e) A Taser shall not be discharged as a prod or escort device, or to arouse unconscious, impaired, or intoxicated individuals. (f) Officers should not intentionally aim for the head, neck, chest or groin. (g) The Taser shall not be used punitively, to elicit statements, or to harass or inflict undue pain on any individual. 309.4.3 MULTIPLE DISCHARGES OF THE TASER DEVICE A standard Taser discharge is five seconds in duration. Multiple Taser discharges or discharges exceeding the standard five-second duration may increase the risk of injury or death and should be avoided when possible. If, after a single discharge of the Taser (which should normally be of five seconds duration), an officer is still unable to gain control of an individual and circumstances allow, the officer should consider whether or not the Taser is making proper contact, whether the Taser is limiting the person’s ability to comply, or if other tactics may be more appropriate or effective. After each discharge of the Taser, the officer should weigh the circumstances involved to determine whether an additional Taser discharge would be appropriate under provisions of this policy. When practical, officers should give a verbal warning prior to each discharge. Only one officer at a time should discharge his/her Taser at a person. If more than one Taser is unholstered for potential use, officers should communicate with each other in order to prevent multiple discharges or a sympathetic discharge of additional Tasers. If practical, officers assisting a Taser operator will attempt to gain physical control of a subject while the Taser is being activated or Police Commission Recommendations – Taser Guidelines, Redlined Draft April 8, 2010 Page 4