Item B: Eugene Police Department Taser Policy

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Police Commission was asked to assist with a Taser policy for a pilot project. The pilot project began in January of 2008 with the arming of 40 officers with the tool and continued until May of 2009. Updates were given to the Police Commission in August 2008 and May 2009 showing the use of force statistics and how Tasers had been used in Eugene during that time. A permanent policy was seen to be needed, and the committee was commissioned to draft this policy, continuing its work for ten months and bringing it to the public at tonight’s meeting. The drafted policy was available for all to read at the meeting, a document titled Police Commission Recommended Draft, Amended April 8, 2010. All revisions and additions to the earlier draft were printed in red. Mr. Alsup read through the document, explaining the revisions and additions that had been made by the committee. He described in detail the four recommended conditions under which Tasers were authorized for use. 3. Public Forum Mr. Alsup opened the floor for public comments, noting that comments were welcome on any aspect of the use of Tasers. Vice Chair Miller clarified that since June 2009 the Police Commission Use of Force committee had met over twenty times to work on the policy update, and that meetings had included time for public dialogue and comment. As well committee members had attended third party forums for discussion of Taser use, she said. She explained that each speaker would have three minutes to make comments or ask questions. James Black remarked that the history of Taser use went back to the Republican administration that had validated torture. He understood the use of Tasers to amount to torture. He remarked about an incident he had heard about where a “partially naked” person had received four Taser shots and had died. Another incident he had heard about occurred at an airport where four officers shot their Tasers at an individual, and Mr. Black believed the tased person had also died. He felt that Taser use should be banned, that communities should be “fixed” rather than “threatened.” Jack Radey said that the reason for the Taser policy being created related to three incidents: 1) a bipolar and suicidal young man was killed by five shots from an assault rifle, which led to the city’s wanting a less drastic tool and the adoption of Tasers, 2) a man who was on the ground with his hands secured was Tasered by a police officer who felt threatened by other nearby demonstrators, and 3) a foreign exchange student who spoke no English was tased when an officer mistakenly thought the student was threatening him. Mr. Radey applauded the committee for its work, but felt the more important point was that when police officers became excited during an incident, they tended to see threats where there really were none, and would be backed up by authorities for use of force with whatever weapon they had at their disposal. He felt this was an issue that needed addressing, more than the use of Tasers. MINUTES—Eugene Police Commission May 4, 2010 Page 2 Use of Force Committee – Taser Public Forum