Taser rates depend on population, and mix

Cedar Rapids police use their Tasers at a higher rate than officers in three other Corridor departments, a Gazette review shows.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department used a Taser at a rate of 8.2 deployments per 10,000 residents from Jan. 1, 2009-Aug. 30 this year. North Liberty was next with 7.3 Taser deployments for every 10,000 residents. Iowa City police stunned at a rate of 5.1 people per 10,000 residents, and Marion had 3.6 deployments for every 10,000 residents.

These rates, computed per capita because of the varying sizes of the communities, were derived from the departments' statistics on Taser use.

“It's just another tool,” Cedar Rapids Police Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said about the Tasers. Compared with pepper spray, nightsticks and other less-than-lethal weapons, Tasers are “more effective without long-lasting effects,” she said.

Iowa City Police Sgt. Denise Brotherton said the rate of Taser use depends on the community size and composition, as well as number and experience of officers answering calls for service.

“When you're younger, you'll tussle with anyone,” Brotherton said. “When you're older, you might pull that Taser out and think, ‘Less injury to me and everyone involved.'”

Education also may play a role, said Joe Treloar, vice chairman of Iowa City's Police Citizens Review Board. “People (with more education) may not resist as much,” Treloar said.

Census figures show 61 percent of Iowa City residents have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 28.4 percent of Cedar Rapids residents.

North Liberty Police Chief Jim Warkentin declined to comment on his department's rate of Taser use.

Brotherton said officers from smaller departments, like North Liberty, may have to wait for backup from a faraway county deputy. This delay could make it harder for an officer to get control of an unruly offender without using force.

North Liberty, a city of 12,400 with 14 officers, is being sued by a resident who was stunned four times at a 2007 concert. A University of Iowa student also complained that he was stunned unnecessarily by a North Liberty officer at the Sept. 11 Iowa vs. Iowa State football game.

Marion Police Lt. Steve Etzel said he doesn't know why Marion, a department of 40 officers and 33,400 residents, had the lowest Taser rate. “You hate to be the top, you know,” Etzel said.

Cedar Rapids police are concerned that officers may use a Taser when they should use their firearm, Hamblin said.

“My fear is that we will depend too much on the Taser rather than using deadly force,” she said.