HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8667INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 8667
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council March 24, 2005
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Y SUBJECT: TASER POLICY AND TRAINING
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On September 13, 2004, and January 18, 2005, the Police Department submitted informal
reports to Council detailing the issuance of Tasers and our Taser deployment policy. During
the March 1 st Pre - Council meeting, an inquiry was made into the specific Taser use policy and
training.
On February 10, 2005, Chief Mendoza issued a directive to clarify for officers the expectation
that they will first attempt to go "hands -on" with a subject before they use the Taser. Prior to
this Special Order, officers could deploy the Taser if verbal or passive resistance was met
during the arrest process. This is still the case; however, officers are now required to attempt
open hand control of the arrestee before they are authorized to use the Taser. The remainder
of the existing guidelines remain, with the direction that " Taser use may be deployed when
there is a risk of injury to the officer or suspect, or during the arrest process when the officer
needs to utilize it to gain control."
Taser training has been expanded from 4 hours to 8 hours. Every officer must complete the
training before they are issued a Taser. Two hours of the training are a refresher course on the
Police Department's use of force policy and the position of the Taser within the use of force
continuum. Scenario training and practical exercises are also provided. Officers are trained to
warn the arrestee that Taser use is imminent. However, circumstances may evolve too quickly
for the warning to be given, so a warning is not an absolute requirement for Taser usage. The
warning has shown to be successful to defuse an arrestee's resistance without actual Taser
usage. Since January 1, 2005, 17 subjects have been apprehended with only the display of a
Taser and a warning when its use would have been authorized.
Since the Tasers were first issued, officers have deployed them over 205 times. Currently, 550
police officers and city marshals have been issued Tasers. Tasers are being issued to all new
police recruits as part of their standard uniform equipment. The Police Department plans to
continue the purchase of Tasers with the goal of training and outfitting all officers on the
department.
If you have any further questions, please contact Chief Ralph Mendoza at 817.392.4210.
Charles R. Boswell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS -