2/28: Urge SJ City Council to put limits on Tasers!

TO: San Jose ACLU members and supporters
FROM: Sanjeev Bery, San Jose Director
DATE: February 23, 2006

Urge the San Jose City Council to Put Limits on Police Tasers!


Taser stun guns are potentially lethal weapons. Last year, three people died in incidents involving San Jose police use of Tasers. Since 2001, over 160 people have died in similar incidents nationwide.

That’s why the San Jose City Council should direct San Jose police to put strong rules in place guiding their use. Unfortunately, in June of 2004, the San Jose Police Department actually deleted internal department limits on Taser use.

These deleted rules prohibited police officers from using Tasers on “restrained, unconscious, non-combative, or otherwise incapacitated persons.” Why were these rules deleted?

In response to criticism, San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis has proposed new Taser training guidelines. Unfortunately, these guidelines are full of loopholes. They allow police officers to use Tasers with the weakest of justification: if the officer thinks a person is “tensing.”

When confronted by a police officer, most people get tense.

This Tuesday, the San Jose City Council will review the new Taser training guidelines. Please tell them that training guidelines are not enough. Council members will only call for improvements if they hear from you.

Click here to take action online:

https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu-nc/issues/alert/?alertid=8511206&type=CU