Police Want to Use TASERs on Disabled

Police Want to Use TASERs on Disabled

The Cambridge, MA Police want to purchase and to use TASERs on persons accused of psychiatric illness. The police supervisor, Robert Ames suggested that a person who is "obviously emotionally disturbed" is a proper target for TASERs at the public hearing on Tuesday, March 13, 2007. The below article about that hearing says that the police want to use the TASERs on mentally ill persons as if they are all dangerous.
Here is the unlawful bias toward persons with disabilities in a headline with no reaction from public officials, or from police. "Cambridge Police Lt. Paul Ames argued that police need Tasers to confront people who are intoxicated or mentally ill and have a high pain tolerance." This comment shows Lt. Ames hatred toward persons with disabilities. I do not believe that he is the only Cambridge officer who holds that opinion. He believes that all persons accused of psychiatric illness are dangerous. He made a similar comment at The TASER Show (see this blog). On a previous occasion Ames also said that a person with a history of mental illness is not a credible witness to a burglary.
It is shameful that the City Council, the City Manager and the Cambridge police have no concern for the unlawful treatment of persons with disabilities in Cambridge. The Handicapped Commission protects City employees. The Human Rights Commission protects the police along with the Police Review and Advisory Board. Currently there are no mechanisms to protect civilians from police abuses.
Regarding the police use of TASERs, please see my two articles in the February 2007 edition of the Bridge at:

Cambridge Cops seek Taser weapons
http://bridgenews.org/news/0207/taserbercaw

and

Listen up or get zapped!
http://bridgenews.org/news/0207/zapyou

The Cambridge Police Commissioner says he is leaving as of March 21, 2007. The Police Superintendent is accused of assaulting a man who was arrested for stealing from him. There is a fun city aura surrounding recent events.
The ACLU’s position on TASERs is the same as the police position. The ACLU does not oppose police abuses of persons with disabilities. John Reinstein, ACLU retired, boasted of his close relationship with Boston police Commissioner Evans. Who invited the ACLU to attend this meeting?
You can send a letter to the paper at
cambridge@cnc.com
You can write to the City Council at
council@cambridgema.gov
You can write to the City Manager at
Robert Healy
citymanager@ci.cambridge.ma.us
You can write to the Cambridge police at
Lt. Robert Ames, Night Supervisor
rames@cambridgepolice.org
Frank Pasquarello, Media Relations
fpasquarello@cambridgepolice.org
Holly Levins, Neighborhood Relations
hlevins@cambridgepolice.org

--
Roy Bercaw, Editor
ENOUGH ROOM
Cambridge MA USA


Police want to use Tasers on drunks, mentally ill
By Dawn Witlin
Cambridge (MA) Chronicle Staff
Thursday, March 15, 2007 - Updated: 06:30 AM EDT

A plan to arm Cambridge Police with Tasers has sparked outrage among residents who questioned whether the stun guns would be overwhelmingly used on minorities. But police said they need the electro-shock weapons to subdue drug users and the mentally ill, who police claim have a high pain tolerance. The move would make Cambridge police the first department in the Boston metro area to use the stun guns.
Susan Yanow, a longtime member of the Area 4 Coalition, said her group is concerned that police would mainly use Tasers on minorities, and that the electro-shock weapons are not necessary for the type of crimes committed in Cambridge. “The overwhelming response is that we know Tasers are used disproportionately on people of color and particularly young men,” said Yanow.
“We understand that the rationale for Tasers is so that officers don’t have to use their guns, but we feel there is a low use of guns anyway, and Tasers might increase the willingness of police to use weapons.” A stun gun is billed as a nonlethal weapon that shoots off four barbs, which attaches to a person’s skin or clothing, delivering 50,000 volts of electricity.
Cambridge is interested in purchasing the weapons from a New England distributor for Taser International. According to Amnesty International, more than 150 people have been killed by stun guns since June 2001. There are 27 police departments across the state using stun guns, according to Mark Tucker, the operations manager from Taser supplier Triple Tactical Supply.
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s office uses the guns, but Cambridge would be the first police department in the Boston metro area to use the weapons. Police Commissioner Ronnie Watson said Tuesday he wants to give 27 to 30 cops stun guns to use with special response teams and firearms instructors within the next several months.
The move would cost the city up to $30,000 to buy the weapons and another $22 to replace the gun’s barbs after each time the gun is used. Although Watson has been pushing for Tasers, the outgoing police commissioner has been reluctant when neighbors suggested adding more walking beat police officers to combat gang violence.
In December, City Manager Bob Healy said the City Council’s call for 30 police foot patrol officers — in the wake of more than a dozen shooting incidents last year — could increase city taxes. Healy said he would keep a close eye on next year’s budget planning to see if the additional police officers would increase property tax rates.
School Committee and Port Action Committee member Richard Harding voiced his opposition to the use of stun guns in everyday beat patrol. “I don’t know necessarily the need for the Taser in Cambridge,” said Harding. “There’s going to have to be some issues on policy and procedure on when it’s appropriate to use this method.”
Harding echoed Yanow’s belief that Tasers are used widely against those in the black community. “At the end of the day, I’ve seen across the country that this stuff is used disproportionately on people of color,” said Harding.
Cambridge Police Lt. Paul Ames argued that police need Tasers to confront people who are intoxicated or mentally ill and have a high pain tolerance. “Many times, you have someone who is drunk or intoxicated who can’t feel pain as well,” said Ames. “A baton might not work, pepper spray might not work, but a Taser will work.” The police department faces several hurdles in bringing Tasers to Cambridge.
City Manager Bob Healy must first approve the funding, and then the state Executive Office of Public Safety has to approve the city’s plan of action for using Tasers. Finally, the City Council must vote to approve the stun guns. It is unlikely that Watson would be at the helm of the department if the plan is approved. He is set to step down at the end of this month. Watson said strict review system would be a safeguard against misuse of the stun guns.
Each time a Taser X26 is used by a police officer, the device digitally records the time, date and duration of each trigger pull, which can be downloaded from the device. A camera is also mounted to the device, which will record the incident for posterity. In addition, said Watson, Cambridge Police’s Use of Force Policy requires a supervisor, medical and shift commander to review when the Taser device is used.
“We simply want another tool in our arsenal,” said Watson. “It’s about not having to use deadly force as much as possible.” Flanked by two officers clutching his arms, Cambridge Police Lt. Stephen A. Ahern demonstrated at the meeting the impact of the Taser X26, by standing in the line of the gun’s fire. As the four barbs shot out from the device, piercing his back up to 3/10 of an inch and delivering 50,000 volts of electricity, Ahern slumped to the ground and his legs gyrated wildly. Several seconds after the charge was dispensed, however, Ahern rose to his feet appearing unfazed. “It was the longest five seconds of my life,” Ahern said afterwards. “The electrical current feels like the pulse of a jackhammer.”
— dwitlin@cnc.com

(photos)
Cambridge Police wants to buy about 30 Tasers to use in the line of duty.
(Mark Thomson)
Cambridge Police Lt. Stephen A. Ahern volunteered to be shot with a Taser gun Tuesday night during a public demonstration forum by the Cambridge Police Department.
(Mark Thomson)
Taser2 Police officers inspect the barbs mark on Lt. Stephen A. Ahern after he was shocked with a Taser during a Tuesday night public demonstration.
(Mark Thomson