Although the Athens Police Department spent almost $9,900 on Taser guns, the weapons continue to be used infrequently in the field.
Since purchasing Tasers in April, APD officers have recorded six instances in which the weapons have been fired. The 10 Tasers cost APD a total of $9,873.75.
Despite their limited use, APD officials defend the purchase.
Our firearms cost $500 a piece times about 30 personnel
and how often do we use those? said APD Chief Rick Mayer. When it's needed it's valuable.
By comparison, the Oxford Police Department has two Tasers which, since their purchase in 2002, have been used three times -twice on people and once on a pit-bull -said Sgt. Jim Squance.
While both departments use the Tasers sparingly, officers say the Tasers are important for the officers.
No use of a Taser in Athens has been unwarranted, Mayer said, and in certain cases, a Taser should have been used in place of other defenses.
With the decontamination issue the pepper spray doesn't tend to be used that often
Mayer said.
Those hit with mace or pepper spray must go through a decontamination process to remove the chemicals from their bodies.
According to APD's Use of Force reports, chemical sprays have been used three times this year. The Oxford police have used sprays between six and 12 times this year, Squance said.
Tasers are more painful than chemical sprays, but the sprays have more extended effects, Mayer said.
I would prefer (to be shot with) the Taser because the pepper spray has a longer residual effect
Mayer said.
According to Taser International's Web site, Tasers reduce injuries to both officers and subjects.
In five of the Taser incidents, the recipients of Taser shots were resisting arrest, according to reports. In the other incident, the recipient ignored verbal commands to stop assaulting another person.
A different officer shot the Taser in each of the six incidents, according to reports. Two of the six individuals shot with a Taser are current or former Ohio University students.
Scott A. Call was shot with a Taser July 23 after refusing repeated commands to stop assaulting another person. According to the Use of Force report, the Taser seemed to have no effect on Call, who was arrested later. Julio Cumba III was shot twice with a Taser on June 4 after the first shot failed to bring him down. Cumba's trial on disorderly conduct charges is set for Oct. 14.
The Minority Relations Panel recently released a report that reviewed the June 4 incident involving Cumba. The report called for reassessment of the necessity and proper use of Tasers. At a press conference following the report's release, Mayer said the use of a Taser on Cumba was warranted.
Cumba was one of two minority defendants who have been shot with a Taser. The other, Senequa Barnes, said after being shot, I'm glad someone stopped me. I was going to kill him. I was out of control
according to the Use of Force Report. Barnes had engaged in a knife fight prior to being subdued by officers.
Ohio University Police Department does not use any Tasers.
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