What is the Eugene police policy on Tasers?
EUGENE, Ore. -- The Eugene Police Department recently equipped about one fifth of the force with Tasers.
The two prongs can pack a powerful punch -- and carry a protocol to go along with it.
According to the Eugene Police Department taser policy, an officer is allowed to use a Taser when:
- the officer believes person is a threat to others or themselves
- a person resists police requests
- a person resists arrest
- someone flees
The officers must give both visual and verbal warnings before they use the taser.
- they must give the person opportunity to voluntarily comply.
- and warn other officers and people that the taser may be deployed.
What happens after they are deployed? According to the policy, all discharges will be documented in the crime report but not independently investigated.
Captain Rich Stronach siad four of the department's 40 Tasers have cameras mounted on top of them. Stronach said they want to order more, but the cameras are very expensive. | Watch a past example of a Taser camera video
The camera starts recording when the safety is removed from the Taser, which might only be seconds before the barbs deploy. Stronach said police want to get cameras that will start recording earlier so they can see what leads up to an officer firing.
Only one in five officers carries a Taser because the pilot program ended just a few months ago. Police want to buy 60 more at a cost of $60,000 dollars. That money is not in the budget right now.
