Quotes about police use of Taser stun guns

August 18, 2007
The Associated Press

"It's just really non-sensical, in a lot of these incidents, to use this weapon. If they had more information, they wouldn't be pulling it when they really ought to be looking at other options."

Dalia Hashad, human rights violations specialist, Amnesty International.

"I'm interested in changing the policy so that Tasers are not used on non-violent people, particularly protesters taking a dignified stance. I see the points police make in using Tasers as an alternative to lethal force. But it seems like they're lowering the threshold so they can use it for a wide variety of uses."

Jonathan Crowell, who was shot with a Taser during a peaceful demonstration in Brattleboro, Vt.

"The use-of-force training and procedures and policy are up to the individual agencies, based on their community standard, their expertise and their own policies."

Steve Tuttle, spokesman, Taser International.

"Whether it's coincidence or circumstance, we have several incidents of use of a Taser gun involving a person with a serious mental problem or presumed serious mental health problem. The use of a Taser intervention is not a minor situation, and it is not state-of-the-art mental health care."

Ken Libertoff, executive director of the Vermont Association for Mental Health.

"You have to remember: Officers going in are not all-knowing. They don't have the luxury of knowing a person's medical history."

Brattleboro (Vt.) Police Chief John Martin.

"It's simple. If you do what you're told and you comply, you won't be Tased."

Richard Leighton, police chief in St. Johnsbury, Vt., where two men who were shocked with stun guns in a 2005 incident won a $10,000 settlement after claiming police used excessive force.