Ensure Taser policies are consistent

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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An analysis of Taser use by Corridor law enforcement agencies reveals some concerning discrepancies.

And while there is no evidence that local departments are inappropriately using the less-lethal weapon, officers' broad discretion in using Tasers leaves the question open.

It is critical that local law enforcement agencies get on the same page when it comes to Taser policies and training and that officers use Tasers consistently in the field.

Especially in light of recent complaints by residents who say they've been Tased unnecessarily, failure to do so risks undermining departments' credibility and trust within Corridor communities.

By the same token, clear, consistent policies and expectations for Taser use help officers protect the public, minimize injury during arrests and build community confidence in officers' decision whether or not to Tase.

A Gazette analysis of Taser deployments by Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, North Liberty and Marion police departments from Jan. 1 2009, through Aug. 30 this year shows the different departments using the less-lethal alternative at varying rates.

In that time, Cedar Rapids police officers used Tasers at a rate of 8.2 deployments per 10,000 residents. North Liberty's rate was 7.3, Iowa City's 5.1 and Marion's 3.6.

The reasons for those variations are anyone's guess. Police officials offered possible reasons varying from officer age and experience to city size and composition - including residents' educational background.

Also concerning to us is the apparent racial disparity of suspects being Tased. Of the 30 people Tased by Cedar Rapids police, 30 percent were black. In North Liberty, four of the nine times officers deployed Tasers in the same period, the suspect was black.

What those numbers don't tell us is what role - if any - race or cultural expectations played in those deployments. Each situation is different, but especially given that no black person Tased in Cedar Rapids this year was brandishing a weapon, it seems some additional education is in order.

We support cultural competency training for local police and educational efforts such as the NAACP's Real-World Guide to Interacting with Law Enforcement.

Officers must have reasonable discretion in deciding whether to use a Taser against a suspect - no policy can anticipate every possible real-life situation.

But in order for residents to feel confident in police use of Tasers, departmental policies must be consistent and consistently applied.