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TASER® Non-Lethal Weapons:
Safety Data & Field Results
Rick W. Smith, Co-Founder
How Ice Cream Causes Shark
Attacks in South Carolina
Risk of Shark Attack (PPM)
0.16
0.14
0.12
0.1
R2 =
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
<1
1-2
2-3
Consumption (Cones per Week)
>3
1995 ACLU Report: 26 Pepper
Spray Related Deaths
in CA alone in 2.5 yrs
“The fatality total suggests that one person dies after being pepper sprayed
for about every 600 times the spray is used by police.”
(Similar calculation for TASER is 1:1,000)
June 3, 2005
In-Custody Deaths
• In several autopsies the TASER has been listed as
a possible contributing factor in a death
– These cases are disputed by independent medical
experts
– TASER is generally listed with other factors that, alone,
could explain death
– Example of cited cause of death:
• “ACUTE METHAMPHETAMINE INTOXICATION WITH
ASSOCIATED (PROBABLE) CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA WHILE
ENGAGED IN PHYSICAL STRUGGLE WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS INVOLVING ‘TASER GUN’,
‘PEPPER SPRAY’, AND RESTRAINTS.”
First Medical Examiner to Find TASER
Primary Cause of Death
• Feb 10, 2005, subject Ronald Hasse Tasered by
the Chicago Police Department.
• Autopsy found Hasse’s system contained .55
micrograms of methamphetamine per milliliter of
blood: 10% above lethal level.
What Really Happened?
• Hasse tried to kick and bite officers and
threatened to infect paramedics with HIV.
• A 5 second TASER hit dropped Hasse.
• Immediately after he got right back up.
– Not feeling any pain.
• This time they need a 57 second therapy
until they are able to get handcuffs on.
• Hasse then climbed into the stair-chair.
• Paramedics verify normal pulse and
respiration.
• Hasse wheeled to elevator.
• Collapsed on floor level
Total Deaths 2000-2005
167
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
27
40
20
3
0
Alleged TASER Can't be Ruled
Primary Cause
Out*
* Arizona Republic, Jan. 2006
TASER Used*
Total Deaths 2000-2005
600
600
500
400
300
167
200
100
3
27
0
Alleged
Can't be Ruled TASER Used* Pepper Spray
TASER
Out*
Comp Data
Primary Cause
from CA**
* Arizona Republic, Jan. 2006
** 1993 ACLU So CA Report, Prorated to National Rate Over 6 Years
Total Deaths 2000-2005
6,000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
600
1000
3
27
167
0
Alleged
Can't be Ruled TASER Used* Pepper Spray
TASER
Out*
Comp Data
Primary Cause
from CA**
Total InCustody
Deaths***
* Arizona Republic, Jan. 2006
** 1995 ACLU So CA Report, Prorated to National Rate Over 6 Years
*** Source: Citizen Down
Total Deaths 2000-2005
114,000
120000
100000
80000
60000
40000
20000
167
27
3
600
6,000
0
Alleged TASER
Primary Cause
Can't be Ruled
Out*
TASER Used*
Pepper Spray Total In-Custody
Comp Data from
Deaths***
CA**
* Arizona Republic, Jan. 2006
** 1995 ACLU So CA Report, Prorated to National Rate Over 6 Years
*** Source: Citizen Down
**** Based on 1999 CDC Drug Death Data
Total Drug
Related
Deaths****
Risk vs. Benefit
9,000
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
900
2000
1000
3
27
167
0
Alleged TASER Can't be Ruled
Primary Cause
Out*
* Arizona Republic, Jan. 2006
** Saves at www.TASER.com
TASER Used*
Documented
"Saves"
Estimated
"Saves"
Cumulative Uses
600,000
500,000
400,000
300,000
X uses cumulative
M uses cumulative
200,000
100,000
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Quarter from Q1-00 to Q2-06
Dozens of Medical and Field
Studies are Completed
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
US Dept of Defense
UK Home Office
Canadian Police
Research Centre
Alfred Hospital, Australia
Potomac Policy Institute
Journal of Pacing and
Clinical Electrophysiology
(PACE)
Orange County Task
Force
Cincinnati Police
Department
Madison, WI Police
University of San Diego
15,000 Documented Volunteers
(100,000 + Estimated)
Recent Sample of Pre-Existing
Conditions:
• 66 subjects
• Age 40.3 + 6.8
(Range 29 to 55)
• 5 (7.6%) history of hypertension
• One reported hyperlipidemia
• One previous myocardial
infarction
• One triple coronary artery
bypass graft
• One coronary artery disease
• One congestive heart failure
• One transient ischemic attack
• One insulin dependent
diabetes.
• 8 (12.1%) reported a family
history of coronary artery
disease.
9,000+ Documented Field Uses
(100,000 + Estimated)
Defence Scientific and Technology
Laboratory, Ministry of Defence, UK
• Predicted M26 and X26 TASER
currents failed to product VEB’s or VF
even when applied to the heart’s most
vulnerable point
• Simulated M26 and X26 waveforms
failed to evoke VF
– No VF with current densities >70 fold
(M26) and >240 fold (X26) the current
density modedled at human heart
Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology
(PACE)
• Peer reviewed study used adult pigs chosen to simulate range of adult
human body weights between 30 and 120 kg (66 lbs. and 264 lbs.)
• Results suggest a safety index > 20:1 for human adults > 45 kg (100 lbs.)
– Tylenol® (Acetaminophen) has an 8:1 safety margin
– This study did not address the safety index as it relates to individuals
with arrhythmias, pacemakers, or implantable cardiac defibrillators
How About Cocaine?
• Cocaine does stimulate the heart to beat harder.
• But, actually reduces the sensitivity to electrocution.
• Early animal studies show that it takes 51% MORE
current to fibrillate with cocaine present.
• Cleveland Clinic Study
• Cocaine increased TASER safety margin by 50100%
Tisdale JE, Shimoyama H, Sabbah HN, Webb
CR.The effect of cocaine on Ventricular
fibrillation threshold in the normal canine heart.
Pharmacotherapy. 1996 May-Jun;16(3):429-37.
Lakkireddy DR, Wallick D, Ryschon K, Chung
MK, Butany J, Martin D, Saliba W,
Kowalewski W, Natale A, Tchou PJ. Effects of
Cocaine Intoxication on the Threshold for Stun
Gun Induction of Ventricular Fibrillation. J Am
Coll Cardiol 2006;48:805–11.
Breathing Results
• J.R. Jauchem et al. / Forensic Science
International
– Anesthetized pigs did not breathe during
TASER applications
• Human Study of 67 Human Volunteers
(Pub Pending)
– 15 second duration hits
– Breathing did not decrease (0 cases of
respiratory arrest)
Breathing Testing
Are TASER Devices Risk Free?
No.
Impact Projectile Injuries
Impact Projectile Injuries
Baton Injuries
TASER™ Injuries
Risk vs. Benefit
Real World TASER Program Results
Dept
Cincinnati PD
Austin PD
Officer
Injuries
Suspect
Injuries
 70%
 53%
 40%
 80%
 67%
 24%
Phoenix PD
Columbus PD
Orange County SO
Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Cape Coral PD
Topeka PD
Omaha
 23%
 80%
 59%
 83%
 46%
 18%
Lethal Force
Force
Complaints
 50%
 32%
 54%
14 “saves”
 25%
 78%
 79
19 “saves”
40%
 46%
Miami and Seattle: Over 12 Months without a Lethal Force Shooting
“Police Shot Him, But ACLU Killed Him,
Group Says”
-By Susan Jones CNSNews.com Senior Editor February 17, 2006
•Police in Antioch, Calif., shot and killed a man this
week when he allegedly advanced on them with a
carving knife and a meat fork.
•Although the Antioch police department has
TASERs, police officials apparently have
suspended their use because of legal and political
concerns.
MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL RISK
MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
TASER Program
MMRMA represents 151 law
enforcement agencies in Michigan
Total of 6,346 officers are employed
by those agencies
REDUCTION IN EXCESSIVE FORCE
CLAIMS
2005 (through Nov. 30 2005)
2000 compared to 2005
2001 compared to 2005
2002 compared to 2005
2003 compared to 2005
2004 through 11/30/05
75% reduction
63% reduction
76% reduction
76% reduction
62% reduction
FACT IS:
With Over 220,000 TASERS in Use
by Law Enforcement,
It’s Astounding How FEW cases
of Abuse Have Been Reported
Weapon Management
• AFID ID Tags
– 20-40 fired with each
cartridge
– Allows tracking of
which officer
discharged weapon
Accountability Download: X26
Discharge M26 in stun mode prior to download to confirm
current time as relative point of reference
TASER™ Cam
Audio Visual Accountability 2nd Qtr 2006
What you can do to minimize
risk of In-Custody Death
• Consider policies to deploy medical
personnel with police on calls involving
persons with symptoms of excited delirium:
– Public Nudity / Profuse Sweating
– Irrationality / Attacking Inanimate Objects
• Institute for Prevention of In-Custody
Death Website: IPICD.com
– In-Custody Death Conferece: Nov 16-17
What you can do in event
of In Custody Death
• Educate Medical Examiners to Obtain and
Freeze Brain Samples within 12 Hours
– 1-800-UM-BRAIN
• Obtain hair samples for record of chronic
drug abuse
• ALSO: Track TASER results like MMRMA
What TASER Can Do to Assist in
Litigation Defense
• Share Strategy / Expertise
– Full Time Litigation Team
• Share Expert Witnesses (30+)
• Provide draft pleadings, motions,
discovery responses
– 100’s of TASER and general ICD studies
• CONTACT: [email protected]
Questions or Comments?
FOR MMRMA: Mike Bertha
Office – 734.245.7764
Cell – 734.216.9789
email – [email protected]
Legal Support: [email protected]
Cardiac Safety: [email protected]
Me: [email protected]
Institute for Prevention of In-Custody Death:
www.IPICD.com