Taser probes may not be intentionally fired at the face, head, neck or groin unless deadly force would be justified, the Madison Police Department announced Monday.
This stipulation is one of eight the MPD released Monday morning at a press conference held by Madison Police Chief Noble Wray.
\These policy changes are in effect immediately,"" Wray told The Daily Cardinal after the conference. ""But we must make sure training takes place first.""
According to an MPD press release, Tasers have been used in the field by authorized department personnel since 2003. However, a deployment in January 2005 on a juvenile at a local high school served as a catalyst for local debate regarding the use of Tasers by Madison police officers.
""Officers have been less eager to use [Tasers],"" said MPD Lt. Cam McLay. ""But these new policies make officers more confident when their heart tells them to do what they should do.""
The new Taser policies and procedures announced at the conference came in response to Resolution No. 00572, which requested that the MPD cease to use Tasers until their safety and effectiveness can be determined.
The release also defined non-deadly force as the MPD understands it. The release said ""non-deadly force means the use of any weapon or instrument, or any physical action taken by an officer which is not likely to cause death.""
The release added that non-deadly force is only authorized when an officer reasonably believes it is necessary to control a person in certain situations.
""An officer has to look at the totality of the circumstances, weigh what they are dealing with, and what is in front of them,"" Wray said.
