Bulletin will urge review of stun guns

WASHINGTON – The largest association of police chiefs will issue a national bulletin within 10 days urging police departments to review the use of stun guns because of reports that the weapons may be related to numerous deaths.

The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Justice Department will also study more than 80 deaths to assess the risks in using the weapons, the group said Tuesday.

The actions come as civil rights groups and some police agencies have questioned the use of stun guns, or Tasers, which emit electrical charges to temporarily incapacitate suspects.

More than 80 deaths have been reported since 1999 after victims were shocked with stun guns, according to reviews by the Arizona Republic and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

The SCLC, an inter-faith activist group based in Atlanta, also asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to declare a moratorium on the weapon.

Arizona-based Taser International is the dominant manufacturer.

The company has sold approximately 130,000 stun guns to about 7,000 of the 16,000 police agencies across the country.

Taser President Tom Smith defended use of his company’s product Tuesday:

“There was no scientific or medical evidence to suggest that these are dangerous devices. I believe this is the safest option for the use of force by police officers,” Smith said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has been investigating Taser’s safety claims.

Last week, the Chicago Police Department halted distribution of 100 additional Tasers to officers until it investigates officers’ use of the device in order to restrain two people, including a 54-year-old man who later died.

John Firman, research director for the police chiefs, said the group’s 20,000 members are not calling for a moratorium.

Despite recent questions about safety, the stun gun still has broad support among police chiefs, Firman said.

Tasers became popular in recent years as an alternative to using guns to stop suspects.