Chicago Police: Tase away

Here's an interesting bit of news for those of you following the Tasing discussion here in Eastern Iowa: Tasings by Chicago Police dramatically increased from Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30 -- up to nearly 700 from fewer than 200 the year before, according to an Independent Police Review Authority annual report. 

That's after the department put Tasers in the hands of patrol officers for the first time in March, according to the Chicago Tribune. Before then, only sergeants and field training officers carried the less-lethal weapon. 

The strange bit is this: because of the dramatic increase in Tasing incidents, the IRPA has decided not to investigate every Taser deployment, as they used to. 

Given IPRA's limited resources, it was required to re-evaluate how it investigates these Taser discharges to focus its resources where they would be most beneficial. The resources required to investigate these discharges, multiplied by the increase in discharges, was overwhelming. Moroever, only a very small percentage of the Taser discharge notices resulted in a complaint of misconduct from the public or identification of a potential policy violation by IPRA. 

The resources required to investigate these discharges, multiplied by the increase in discharges, was overwhelming. Moroever, only a very small percentage of the Taser discharge notices resulted in a complaint of misconduct from the public or identification of a potential policy violation by IPRA. 

So six months after they double the number of Tasers on the street, as Taser deployments skyrocket, the IRPA decides to loosen their investigation into Tasing incidents. It's a quick change on the heels of such a dramatic bump. 

They'll still investigate if a Taser is deployed against a minor or a person over the age of 65, or if someone complains that there was Taser-related misconduct involving serious injury or death. Every other incident will be "reviewed by an employee" to see if it warrants investigation. 

But given concerns over Taser safety, and officer's broad discretion in using the weapon, you've got to wonder if that once-over will uncover much worth investigating. After all, the IPRA is, as they've told us, awfully busy. 

As 

recent Gazette stories have shown, Tasers are useful law enforcement tools, but remain controversial for good reason. Until the industry has a more solid understanding about the risks, and how Tasers fit in police work, more data is needed about how they're being used -- not less.