Cincinnati Police DepartmentCincinnati Police Department

Implementation of the Implementation of the X26 TASERX26 TASER

Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2004Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2004

Use of Force by PoliceUse of Force by PoliceU.S. Supreme Court Standard U.S. Supreme Court Standard

Graham v. ConnorGraham v. Connor

Use of force is evaluated based on three Use of force is evaluated based on three prong test.prong test.Severity of the crimeSeverity of the crimeWhether the suspect poses an immediate Whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of the officer or threat to the safety of the officer or others.others.Whether suspect actively resists arrest.Whether suspect actively resists arrest.

Use of Force by Police: Use of Force by Police: Department PolicyDepartment Policy

When officers are confronted with a situation where When officers are confronted with a situation where control is required to effect arrest or protect the public’s control is required to effect arrest or protect the public’s safety, officers should attempt to achieve control safety, officers should attempt to achieve control through advice, warnings, and persuasion.through advice, warnings, and persuasion.When officers have a right to make an arrest, they may When officers have a right to make an arrest, they may use whatever force is reasonably necessary to use whatever force is reasonably necessary to apprehend the offender or effect the arrest, and no apprehend the offender or effect the arrest, and no more.more.Their privilege to use force is not limited to that amount Their privilege to use force is not limited to that amount of force necessary to protect themselves or others, but of force necessary to protect themselves or others, but extends to that amount reasonably necessary to enable extends to that amount reasonably necessary to enable them to effect the arrest of a resistant subject.them to effect the arrest of a resistant subject.

Operational Application of Law and Operational Application of Law and PolicyPolicy

Reasonable suspicion to stop and detain (Reasonable suspicion to stop and detain (Terry Terry stop) or Probable Cause to Arreststop) or Probable Cause to ArrestNonNon--compliance or resistance by the subject.compliance or resistance by the subject.Warning that force will be used.Warning that force will be used.Assault on the Police Officer by the subject.Assault on the Police Officer by the subject.Use of reasonable force to overcome resistance Use of reasonable force to overcome resistance to arrest, gain compliance, defend against to arrest, gain compliance, defend against assault. assault.

Reasonable Use of ForceReasonable Use of Force

Presence, verbal commands, TASER, Presence, verbal commands, TASER, chemical irritant, empty hand control, arm chemical irritant, empty hand control, arm and leg strikes, impact weapons (PRand leg strikes, impact weapons (PR--24, 24, pepper ball, beanbag round), firearm.pepper ball, beanbag round), firearm.TASER: nonTASER: non--lethal, least likely to cause lethal, least likely to cause injury, no lasting effect.injury, no lasting effect.

Use of Force: Investigation and Use of Force: Investigation and ReviewReview

All TASER deployments are investigated by a All TASER deployments are investigated by a Supervisor who responds to the scene, Supervisor who responds to the scene, interviews all parties, and submits a written interviews all parties, and submits a written report, with photographs and related records.report, with photographs and related records.District/Section Commanders review all TASER District/Section Commanders review all TASER incidents.incidents.Bureau Commanders review all TASER incidents.Bureau Commanders review all TASER incidents.Inspections Section reviews all TASER incidents Inspections Section reviews all TASER incidents and submits a recommendation to the Police and submits a recommendation to the Police ChiefChief

The Police Department completed its final The Police Department completed its final TASER training class in June of 2004.TASER training class in June of 2004.There are over 1025 police officers trained There are over 1025 police officers trained and equipped with TASERS.and equipped with TASERS.Full Department implementation has been Full Department implementation has been completed.completed.812 officers submitted to a voluntary 812 officers submitted to a voluntary exposure of the 5 second TASER cycle.exposure of the 5 second TASER cycle.

In the year 2004 the TASER has been In the year 2004 the TASER has been used against a person in 629 separate used against a person in 629 separate instances.instances.The TASER was successful in gaining The TASER was successful in gaining compliance in 527 of the instances where compliance in 527 of the instances where it was used. In the 102 instances when it was used. In the 102 instances when the TASER was used but was less than the TASER was used but was less than effective, an inadequate circuit resulted in effective, an inadequate circuit resulted in continued noncontinued non--compliance by resistive compliance by resistive subjects.subjects.Successful deployment includes 61 Successful deployment includes 61 incidents in which the threat of impending incidents in which the threat of impending TASER use was sufficient to gain TASER use was sufficient to gain compliance.compliance.

--There have been no reported injuries There have been no reported injuries resulting from an individual being resulting from an individual being exposed to the TASER shock itself.exposed to the TASER shock itself.--There have been 75 cases where an There have been 75 cases where an individual suffered an injury as a result individual suffered an injury as a result of falling after being subjected to the of falling after being subjected to the TASER:TASER:

--70 individuals suffered minor cuts 70 individuals suffered minor cuts or abrasionsor abrasions--5 individuals suffered a 5 individuals suffered a fracturefracture

Results of 629 TASER incidentsResults of 629 TASER incidents(Includes 61 threats of TASER use)(Includes 61 threats of TASER use)

CartridgeDischargeDrive Stun

Red DotComplianceMissedTarget

14%

79%*

8%

11%

*This statistic includes missed targets

Effect on Subjects of the 568 TASER Effect on Subjects of the 568 TASER

DeploymentsDeployments

Immobilized 369

GainedCompliance/PartialEffect 103

Missed Target/NoEffect 96

15%

19%66%*

*This percentage does not include 61 incidents of impending use of the TASER

Use of Force ReportsUse of Force Reports

1/1/03 to 12/31/031/1/03 to 12/31/03

Chemical IrritantChemical Irritant 387387Physical Force 174Physical Force 174PRPR--24 1324 13Beanbag/Foam 4Beanbag/Foam 4Pepper Gun 10Pepper Gun 10TaserTaser 3

1/1/04 to 12/31/041/1/04 to 12/31/04

Chemical IrritantChemical Irritant 176176Physical Force Physical Force 158158PRPR--24 124 1Beanbag/Foam 1Beanbag/Foam 1Pepper Gun 1Pepper Gun 1TaserTaser 5683 568

Police Officer Assault/Injury to Prisoner Police Officer Assault/Injury to Prisoner StatisticsStatistics

1/1/03 to 12/31/031/1/03 to 12/31/03

Officers arrest/ assault Officers arrest/ assault injuries 64injuries 64

Foot pursuit injuries 39Foot pursuit injuries 39

Injury to PrisonerInjury to Prisoner235

01/01/04 to 12/31/0401/01/04 to 12/31/04

Officers arrest/assault Officers arrest/assault injuries 37injuries 37

Foot pursuit injuries 17 Foot pursuit injuries 17

Injury to PrisonerInjury to Prisoner168168235

TASER Deployment ScenariosTASER Deployment Scenarios

On 8/13/04, officers were conducting a drug On 8/13/04, officers were conducting a drug investigation when one of the subjects stood investigation when one of the subjects stood up and grabbed his waistband with his right up and grabbed his waistband with his right hand. The subject fled from the scene. The hand. The subject fled from the scene. The subject refused to stop and after warning the subject refused to stop and after warning the subject, the officers deployed the TASER. The subject, the officers deployed the TASER. The subject was handcuffed without further subject was handcuffed without further incident. The subject was armed with a incident. The subject was armed with a firearm.firearm.

TASER ScenariosTASER Scenarios

On 8/13/04, officers responded to a report of a On 8/13/04, officers responded to a report of a suicidal female with a knife. The suicidal suicidal female with a knife. The suicidal subject was intoxicated, had already cut herself subject was intoxicated, had already cut herself on her right arm, and put the knife to her on her right arm, and put the knife to her throat. The officer deployed the TASER, throat. The officer deployed the TASER, immobilizing the subject. The officers were immobilizing the subject. The officers were then able to recover the knife and handcuff the then able to recover the knife and handcuff the subject. subject.

TASER ScenariosTASER Scenarios

On 9/1/04, officers received information from a On 9/1/04, officers received information from a confidential informant that a subject was confidential informant that a subject was involved in a drug transaction. As officers involved in a drug transaction. As officers approached the subject, he fled on foot. approached the subject, he fled on foot. Officers pursued and the subject reached Officers pursued and the subject reached toward the left side of his waistband. Officers toward the left side of his waistband. Officers utilized the TASER and when the subject fell to utilized the TASER and when the subject fell to the ground, a loaded .38 revolver fell out of his the ground, a loaded .38 revolver fell out of his waistband. The subject was handcuffed waistband. The subject was handcuffed without further incident.without further incident.

TASER TASER ScenariosScenarios

On 9/2/04, an officer investigated an On 9/2/04, an officer investigated an assault in progress. One subject was assault in progress. One subject was advancing on another swinging a knife. advancing on another swinging a knife. The officer ordered the subject to drop the The officer ordered the subject to drop the knife and was ignored. The officer knife and was ignored. The officer deployed her TASER and was able to take deployed her TASER and was able to take the knife wielding subject into custody.the knife wielding subject into custody.

TASER Scenarios TASER Scenarios

On 9/21/04, in the area of 3626 Reading On 9/21/04, in the area of 3626 Reading Road, officers stopped a subject for Road, officers stopped a subject for criminal trespassing, the subject fled to a criminal trespassing, the subject fled to a vehicle and was able to drive away. The vehicle and was able to drive away. The subject’s vehicle stalled on Reading Road. subject’s vehicle stalled on Reading Road. The subject attempted to run, was warned The subject attempted to run, was warned of pending TASER deployment, ignored of pending TASER deployment, ignored the warning, and the TASER was the warning, and the TASER was deployed, gaining compliance. The deployed, gaining compliance. The subject had discarded a firearm during the subject had discarded a firearm during the foot pursuit.foot pursuit.

TASER ScenariosTASER Scenarios

On 10/13/04, Officers developed information a On 10/13/04, Officers developed information a subject was attempting to illegally sell a firearm. subject was attempting to illegally sell a firearm. The officers approached the subject, the subject The officers approached the subject, the subject fled on foot, and officers warned of impending fled on foot, and officers warned of impending TASER use. The TASER was deployed, striking TASER use. The TASER was deployed, striking the subject and apparently did not have an the subject and apparently did not have an effect due to several layers of clothing. effect due to several layers of clothing. However, the subject pulled a Glock 9mm However, the subject pulled a Glock 9mm handgun from his waistband and discarded it handgun from his waistband and discarded it while fleeing. The officers caught the subject while fleeing. The officers caught the subject and handcuffed him without further incident.and handcuffed him without further incident.

TASER ScenariosTASER Scenarios

On 10/18/04, officers stopped a subject for a On 10/18/04, officers stopped a subject for a traffic violation. The subject moved around in traffic violation. The subject moved around in the car and reached under the seat as officers the car and reached under the seat as officers approached. The subject was ordered out of the approached. The subject was ordered out of the car. The subject lunged at the officer when he car. The subject lunged at the officer when he exited the car, striking the officer in the chest, exited the car, striking the officer in the chest, and then fled on foot. The officers caught the and then fled on foot. The officers caught the subject and used a drive stun to achieve subject and used a drive stun to achieve compliance. A 9mm handgun was recovered compliance. A 9mm handgun was recovered from the center console of the car.from the center console of the car.

TASER ScenariosTASER ScenariosOn 11/18/04, officers responded to a report of On 11/18/04, officers responded to a report of an assault. Upon arrival outside the apartment, an assault. Upon arrival outside the apartment, they knocked, announced themselves, and did they knocked, announced themselves, and did not get a response. The officers heard the not get a response. The officers heard the sounds of a fight inside the apartment. The sounds of a fight inside the apartment. The door was not locked and the officers entered the door was not locked and the officers entered the apartment. They observed a male subject apartment. They observed a male subject standing over a female when they entered a standing over a female when they entered a bedroom. The officers ordered the male subject bedroom. The officers ordered the male subject to stop and he moved toward a handgun on to stop and he moved toward a handgun on night table. One officer deployed his TASER, night table. One officer deployed his TASER, immobilizing the subject. He was arrested and immobilizing the subject. He was arrested and the handgun recovered.the handgun recovered.

TASER ScenariosTASER Scenarios

On 11/18/04, officers responded to the Free On 11/18/04, officers responded to the Free Store to assist the University Hospital Psychiatric Store to assist the University Hospital Psychiatric Unit. The Unit’s Mobile Crisis Team was on the Unit. The Unit’s Mobile Crisis Team was on the scene requesting a subject be transported to the scene requesting a subject be transported to the emergency room. The subject threatened the emergency room. The subject threatened the Crisis workers and when ordered to submit to Crisis workers and when ordered to submit to handcuffing, lunged at one of the workers. An handcuffing, lunged at one of the workers. An officer deployed her TASER, immobilizing the officer deployed her TASER, immobilizing the subject, who was then handcuffed without subject, who was then handcuffed without further incident.further incident.

Police Officer Injury/Injury to PrisonerPolice Officer Injury/Injury to PrisonerIncidentsIncidents

2004 Statistics2004 Statistics

Police Officers Injured Police Officers Injured --Down 88%Down 88%

Injuries to PrisonersInjuries to Prisoners--Down 37%Down 37%

TASER Deployment: ConclusionTASER Deployment: Conclusion

TASERS have proven to be an TASERS have proven to be an effective tool for overcoming effective tool for overcoming resistance to arrest.resistance to arrest.