August 2, 2007
Trish Audette, CanWest News Service
An Edmonton police officer who Tasered a drunken teen six times in one minute -- but was never disciplined for the act -- now faces five new criminal charges. Const. Mike Wasylyshen, son of former Edmonton police chief Bob Wasylyshen, has been charged with assaulting and threatening to cause death or bodily harm to a 24-year-old Edmonton man, assaulting two more men and threatening to cause death or bodily harm to the family of a fourth man, age 21. All of the charges stem from an incident on Edmonton's Whyte Avenue, a popular bar and nightclub strip, on Dec. 18, 2005.
The 31-year-old officer, who has been with the Edmonton service for eight years, faces the following charges:
- one count of assaulting a 24-year-old Edmonton man;
- one count of threatening to cause death or bodily harm to the same man;
- one count of assaulting a second 24-year-old Edmonton man;
- one count of assaulting a third man;
- one count of threatening to cause death or bodily harm to the family of a 21-year-old Edmonton man.
Edmonton police laid the charges last month, but did not release further details -- except to say they began investigating after another officer came forward with information.
It's not the first time Wasylyshen has been accused of using unnecessary force. In October, 2002, Randy Fryingpan was 16 years old and passed out drunk in the back of a parked car at an Edmonton townhouse project. Wasylyshen roused the teen from his drunken slumber by shocking him six times in 66 seconds, knocked out his front tooth and left him with burn marks and bruises. Another officer later strip-searched the young man. Although a provincial court judge called the arrest "cruel and unusual punishment,"and Wasylyshen's Taser use "absolutely unnecessary," police refused to conduct an outside investigation.
Then-acting police chief Darryl da Costa said even an internal disciplinary hearing was unnecessary, and cleared Wasylyshen of allegations he had breached the Police Act -- including discreditable conduct, insubordination and unnecessary exercise of authority.
In the end, Wasylyshen faced neither criminal nor internal discipline for the incident. He remains on duty as a patrol officer and is scheduled to appear in court to face the new charges September 7th.
His father is former chief Bob Wasylyshen.
August 2, 2007
Editorial, Bennington Banner
"... the debate still comes back to the fact that the two were unarmed and not posing a threat to public safety. That is why Brattleboro's police need clear guidelines on the use of Tasers and what constitutes appropriate use of force."
August 2, 2007
Margaret Cronin Fisk and Jon Steinman, Bloomberg
"Taser stock has climbed 51 percent in the past two years as it issued press releases on rulings in its favor. The shares have risen an average of 2 percent, and as much as 11 percent, on the day of the announcements. Lawsuits and other allegations that the weapons were unsafe pummeled the company's shares in 2005, when they fell 78 percent."
Taser General Counsel Doug Klint said he considers it a "win" when, for example, the company settles for $10,000 rather than pays $250,000 to litigate a case.
August 2, 2007
Scott Glover, LA Times
A cellphone clip of the incident was posted on You Tube.
August 1, 2007
Paul Rolly, Tribune Columnist
"As some folks who have participated in the legislative process know, those who speak in committee meetings on a position not favored by the Legislature's political majority often get shouted down, have their time cut short and are insulted. But it could become more dangerous next year. If you get too uppity with the powers that be, you might get zapped by a Taser. Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, who has publicly expressed his contempt for "socialists" in response to Michael Moore's film "Sicko," has sent an e-mail to his legislative colleagues offering to get them a discount on the Taser C2, with an optional laser sight, for the great low price of $330. He can get that deal for legislators' family members, too. And the best part? You don't need a concealed-weapons permit to have an activated Taser, Wimmer says. Although you do have to pass a background check. Wimmer, a career police officer, points out in his e-mail that being a high-profile person like a legislator can be a risky endeavor and some legislators have been reluctant to carry a gun, even though Wimmer's fellow Republican Rep. Curtis Oda, of Clearfield, has been more than generous in arranging for concealed-weapons permit classes for the lawmakers. The Taser is the way to go, he says."
An Omaha man was hospitalized in critical condition yesterday after police deployed a Taser while trying to take him into custody. The suspect is identified as 21-year-old James Barnes. Barnes had warrants and police say officers went to his home at 2860 Manderson to locate him at 9:50 Tuesday morning. They say the front door was open and the house appeared to be abandoned. The officers entered the house and found Barnes hiding behind a door. While trying to take him into custody police say the Taser was deployed as Barnes jumped through a closed window and fell to the ground. Barnes was taken to the Nebraska Medical Center in critical condition with an injury that police say could potentially be life threatening.
"We know a Taser can indeed kill an adult," Colorado Senator Hagedorn said. "We need to have a thorough discussion about the use of Tasers in our schools," he said, adding that discussion should occur at the school districts, not in the legislature.
I could not disagree more strongly - this is not a discussion for the school districts! This is a discussion that needs to go further by far. The top lawmakers in both of our countries have long been ignoring this issue and allowing police, school districts and town councils to make these lethal decisions, often without any public consultation. Most of the people who comprise these councils and committees would be uniquely unqualified to discuss tasers with any knowledge.
Our government is no more qualified to make this decision; however, it is in a position to facilitate a wider forum and public consultation. One that isn't driven by the manufacturer or by any police or police association. Only through full public consultation, including citizens who are not on the same government's payroll nor biased in favour of the manufacturer or law enforcement: only then can any discussion be considered "thorough" and only then can we consider the issue completely and intelligently.
I wonder who made the decision this month to equip all seven El Paso County school resource officers with tasers. The Sherriff's office cited the taser's main purpose is to deal with people coming into the schools - intruders. "But a Taser might be used against an armed student," said a spokesperson. From what I've seen of children being tasered, an armed student may mean "any student with at least one arm".
Today, I received a message from a stranger who said: "I did not even know that people could be seriously injured or die from those things. I can see why you would be angry about tasers."
I'm afraid that this seems to be Joe Public's common reaction. And that, friends, is part of what drives me here every day. I'm here to help people see the other side - the dark side. As of today, my blog has had 1,000 hits and I hope that many of my visitors have gone away somewhat the wiser. Thanks to all who enter - I'll be here for awhile and I hope you'll come again.
July 31, 2007
Rick Hepp, newjersey.com
According to this article, New Jersey is the only state that prohibits police from using "less-lethal" weapons such as a stun gun or Taser.
The Attorney General wants an advisory group to "recommend whether the state's current use of force policy should be revised to authorize the use of less lethal ammunition or stun guns in specific circumstances where deadly force might not be justified under current law. The group, which will have at least one public hearing, is expected to issue a report by December 1st."
It will be co-chaired by a retired Superior Court appellate judge, the executive director of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, a couple of prosecutors and the executive director of the Mental Health Association of Essex County.
What about an addictions expert? A social worker? A human rights advocate? A risk manager? This tree needs to grow branches. Others would - and should - have something to add to this discussion. And they should not be made to come up with a 5-minute presentation at a public hearing. They should be at this table.
You can bet the manufacturer will jump at this chance to help the group make its decision. (The manufacturer was granted "standing" at the Inquest into my brother's death, if you can believe it.) There is no way this little news item has escaped them.
I can see the headline now: "Stocks soar as tasers jolt all 52 states." That's what it's all about, you know.
July 30, 2007
CBC News
"Players not charged with assaulting police so games could go on, says Blair"
"... Responding to a media question as to why no charges were laid against the players if officers were assaulted, Blair said police "exercised discretion" in order not to disrupt the tournament."
July 30, 2007
Associated Press
"After police stunned two protesters with Tasers, the town has suspended the use of the stun guns while it reviews police policy."
July 29, 2007
Paul Davenport, The Associated Press
This is a most disturbing story. And I know many will think that grandpa had it coming. However, his egregious actions notwithstanding, he should not have died. The man obviously needed help of another kind.
Ronald Marquez, 49
July 27, 2007
"A volunteer emergency medical technician who spoke out at Tuesday's Selectboard meeting against police use of Tasers on nonviolent protesters was suspended pending an investigation, said David Dunn, executive director of the emergency ambulance service."
July 26, 2007
Rhonda Cook, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
July 26, 2007
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Carlos Rodriguez, 27, UNARMED
July 26, 2007
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Carlos Rodriguez, 27, UNARMED
July 26, 2007
Susan Smallheer, Rutland Herald
July 26, 2007
Alan Young, NOW Magazine, Toronto
Despite the fact that most British cops still patrol without a gun, I don't think there's a compelling case for disarming our police. And if cops are authorized to discharge a firearm to subdue a belligerent and aggressive target, why should we object to the use of tasers?
It's a question we should be addressing following reports last week that our cops used tasers against some angry soccer players from Chile.
It's generally accepted that prolonged or continuous exposure to the charge of the taser, a conducted energy weapon, can lead to serious medical complications, including respiratory failure.
In "touch-stun" mode, the weapon sends a 50,000-volt shock that causes overwhelming but momentary pain, while in "probe" mode it can fire dart-like electrodes up to 9 metres that override the target's sensory and nervous systems, resulting in temporary paralysis.
Amnesty International has documented 245 taser-related deaths worldwide, 15 of them in Canada, since 2001. No doubt these numbers are troubling, but the firearm is clearly still more dangerous than the taser.
Although data are difficult to obtain, it appears that on average police shootings kill 10 Canadians every year; 16 deaths a year occurred in 2004 and 2005.
The numbers actually mean very little, as the real question is whether the infliction of deadly force was justifiable in the circumstances.
The Criminal Code says little about police use of force. Use "reasonable force" is the Code's only sage advice. A brief perusal of the June 2007 report from the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP shows that some officers have a very unreasonable idea of what is reasonable.
The commission condemned the force for using attack dogs and tasers in a casual, routine manner. In one case, a police service dog was sent in to attack a fleeing suspect hiding in a bush despite the fact that officers were close by who could easily have caught the suspect if they had not been so averse to running.
In another, a short, intoxicated and belligerent woman was tasered twice in touch-stun mode after she had already been handcuffed. Apparently, the suspect was reluctant to enter the jail cell, and police tasered her as if "using a cattle prod" to move her into the cell.
The Special Investigations Unit in Ontario has been busy looking into fatalities and serious injuries caused by police use of force in the past few years. Since 2004, the unit has reviewed over 550 cases, and just last month it laid charges of assault against three Halton police officers for the alleged tasering of a 79-year-old man who fell and broke his hip.
But out of hundreds of cases, only eight charges against police have been laid as a result of the investigations.
The idealist will say the low charge rate demonstrates that most officers exercise good judgment and reasonable force, while the cynic will say the SIU is just a bunch of cops whitewashing their colleagues' actions.
The credibility of the cynics' view was enhanced a couple of weeks back when the provincial ombudsman, André Marin, was moved to initiate an investigation into the SIU after hearing numerous "serious allegations" that the unit was "not doing its job properly."
Enforcing the criminal law is not an exercise in etiquette and grace. Shit happens, and people get hurt whether the police are bare-fisted, wielding a baton, discharging a firearm or sparking a taser. So it is impossible to take an absolute position on the justifiability of packing a taser.
The focus of concern should always be on the mechanisms for accountability when someone claims that the police acted like bullies with dangerous toys.
If there is a mechanism for independently investigating allegations of police misconduct, with the possibility of real disciplinary sanctions, it's more likely that officers will act reasonably in the exercise of their duties.
As it stands, the unfortunate reality is that our current mechanisms for policing the police are woefully inadequate. Investigations are usually haphazard and incomplete, and when on rare occasions misconduct is found, disciplinary sanctions are toothless.
After the RCMP Commission found that an officer had used the taser like a cattle prod, the official response amounted to no more than an apology and some retraining of the aggressive officer. This is nonsense. If the tasering of a handcuffed woman was unjustified, then this particular act of policing constitutes the criminal offence of assault, and as a general rule, offering an apology does not give most people a free pass from prosecution.
So the real problem is not the weapon per se, but the lack of courage and resolve of those with the authority to punish taser-happy officers.
July 26, 2007
Gayle Reaves, Fort Worth Weekly
The chorus of voices calling for reform of Taser policies is growing — and so is the list of deaths.
A veteran officer with the Broomfield Police Department who shot a child in the eye with a Taser gun while he was off-duty pleaded guilty to a charge of child abuse, according to the Boulder Daily Camera.
July 25, 2007
Bob Audette, Reformer
Today's question: Is it appropriate to use a Taser on non-violent protesters?
"All they had to do was take our water away from us and we would have been gone in 48 hours" said one protestor. Another said: "We were surprised that they were going to resort to such extreme tactics so quickly."
July 25, 2007
By George Chidi, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Carlos Rodriguez, 27, UNARMED
On July 19, 2004, two days after the death of Jerry Knight, the Chief Coroner for Ontario announced that an inquest would be held to review the events surrounding the death. At the time of the announcement, the autopsy had been completed and the results had been forwarded to the SIU. The announcement noted that the date, time and location for the inquest would be announced following the completion of the investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.
In September 2004, although they said that the actions of the police appeared to have played a role in Mr. Knight's death, the SIU cleared the officer of any wrongdoing and Jerry Knight's death was blamed on cocaine and not the taser.
Curious as to why THREE YEARS have passed since the Chief Coroner announced his intent to hold an inquest, I sent a written inquiry to his office. The reply I received came from the Regional Supervising Coroner, Central Region (Brampton) who wrote the following:
"To date, the announced inquest has not taken place due to constraints relating to manpower and resources within our office. It is our intention to proceed with this inquest as soon as we are able."
July 24, 2007
Gary Craig, Democrat & Chronicle (Rochester, New York)
July 24, 2007
Peter Hirschfeld, The Barre Montpelier Times Argus (Vermont)
"Officials here are still dealing with the fallout from confusion over how the Taser guns were acquired without public notification or input."
July 23, 2007
Thana Dharmarajah, Guelph Mercury
Guelph Police Chief Rob Davis says he'd like to see stun guns in the hands of all front-line officers.
July 21, 2007
Joyce Tsai, The Kansas City Star
Jermaine Thompson, 36, UNARMED
July 21, 2007
Tony Blais, The Edmonton Sun
During the arrest Hector Patricio Jara, 22, was kicked in the head, hit twice with a TASER and had several fingers broken.
Court of Queen's Bench Justice Sterling Sanderman said the kick might have been "a cheap shot," but ruled it wasn't excessive and said he had no issue with the broken fingers since Jara was resisting. However, regarding the use of the TASER, Sanderman said he found the constable had "personalized" the events and did not use his restraint.
July 20, 2007
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga police officials have asked Taser International to explain why 20 percent of their department's stun guns are malfunctioning.
July 20, 2007
Brett Clarkson, Toronto Sun
Outrage over police methods in soccer brawl, but T.O. chief says reaction 'firm but fair'.
July 20, 2007
Canadian Press
A member of the Chilean delegation was subdued by taser during the brawl.
Canadian Press photographer Nathan Denette witnessed the post-match incident outside the stadium and said it was like a "big dogfight." He said at one point, "fists were flying everywhere" after players saw that one of their own had been tasered.
A FIFA spokesman said early Friday that no arrests had been made.
July 20, 2007
Tim Naumetz, CanWest News Service
In one case, however, where an RCMP officer used a Taser stun gun on a handcuffed woman in a police station, the RCMP commissioner of the day agreed with the commission's findings that use of the Taser in that situation was "totally inappropriate" and denied the officer access to Tasers until he finished a new training course in their use.
July 19, 2007
Brookes Merritt, Sun Media
"The theory is that once they [the suspects] realize they are being recorded they are less likely to fib about being mistreated by an officer."
Perhaps once the officers know the incident is being recorded, they (the police) are less likely to experience "excited delirium"!!
July 19, 2007
Andrew Hanon, Sun Media
"Wasylyshen earned notoriety for repeatedly using his stun gun on an unconscious teen (Randy Fryingpan) in 2002. Charges for breaching conditions of bail against Randy Fryingpan were stayed in 2005 after Judge Jack Easton labelled Wasylyshen's behaviour while arresting him "cruel and unusual." Fryingpan, who was 16 at the time, had been drinking and smoking pot with three other youths when Wasylyshen and two other cops found him. The teen was passed out in a car when Wasylyshen zapped him the first time. Wasylyshen used the stun gun five more times on the youth as he hauled Fryingpan out of the car. Despite the judge's ruling, Crown prosecutors who reviewed the case decided not to pursue criminal charges against Wasylyshen because they believed Wasylyshen was justified in using his stun gun."
July 17, 2007
John Ingold, Denver Post
Albert Romero, 47, UNARMED
"When you pull a Taser on someone and use it, you just never know how they're going to react to it. It could be lethal." - Jack Wilson, father of 22-year-old Ryan Wilson who died after he was tasered for the crime of running from police.
I agree - using a taser is like playing Russian Roulette.
July 16, 2007
Megan Bengtson, 9News, Colorado
Albert Romero, 47, UNARMED
This is the 7th death in Colorado since 2002.
July 16, 2007
Rhonda Cook - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fulton deputy's weapon used more than 30 times in seven months
Previous Report:
Fulton seizes its jail's Tasers
June 29, 2007
Rhonda Cook - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
July 11, 2007
Tamara Cherry, Toronto Star
Toronto police Chief William Blair's plan to equip all officers on the street with Taser guns was put on hold Tuesday, when the police board said it wouldn't go to the province for funding without more information.
Meanwhile, down in Largo, Flordida, the State Attorney's office ruled Tuesday that deputies’ actions were not the cause of the May 5 death of 33 year old Daniel Bradley Young. Looks excessive to me:
Officer A applied his taser to Young’s back, Officer B deployed her taser to Young’s lower back, Officer C used her taser to “drive stun” Young on the stomach. Officers D, E and F arrived and Young was tasered additional times on the chest, shoulder, thigh and knees. Finally, when Young was handcuffed and rolled onto his back, they realized he was in medical distress. Young was transported to Largo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy found several puncture marks on the body consistent with marks that would be left behind from a Taser. The medical examiner concluded that Young died as a result of his preexisting condition of excited delirium syndrome due to cocaine toxicity.
“In this case, the use of force resulting in blunt trauma, including the use of a Taser or restraint, individually or collectively contributed to but did not cause the death of Daniel Young,” the medical examiner said.
I wonder if the Medical Examiner referred to his manufacturer-supplied pamphlet on excited delirium to help with his diagnosis.
July 09, 2007: 11:30 AM EST
Shockwave Arrives At Annual TASER Conference
"Addressing an audience of several hundred law enforcement and military officers, [Rick] Smith [CEO] explained that when activated, Shockwave units saturate an area with TASER Neuro Muscular Incapacitation (NMI), providing the first area-target system capable of not only denying personnel but also incapacitating persons utilizing reversible non-lethal effects by delivering five seconds of NMI, much like the current TASER X26 electronic control device."
It looks like good news for the Taser manufacturer's stock and that, after all, is what it's all about. Taser advanced today on a sharp increase in volume. The stock traded with uncertainty during the first 90 minutes of the session with a subdued volume level before the climb. At 12:35 pm, shares of Taser traded at a mark of $15.29. This was a gain of $1.23 for the day. The stock rose above near-term resistance.
What the hell is the world coming to?
July 7, 2007
Betsy Powell, Toronto Star
"The chief disagrees with the recommendation from a coroner's jury that the tasers, if issued, require "full accountability features including the video recorder." He cites the size, the cost and the fragility of the video equipment, which will "only add to the already high rate of unit failure." He says 25 per cent of Toronto's tasers have been returned to the manufacturer for replacement. In its most recent semi-regular bulletin, the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition referred to a website called www.truthnottasers.blogspot.com established by a Vancouver woman after her brother died in 2004 after police used a Taser."
Contrary to this article, while my brother died in Vancouver, I'm not a Vancouver woman. I'm an Ontario taxpayer. It's ironic that, if this $8.5 million taser purchase is approved, my tax dollars will help to finance it.
What follows is a letter from Ray Samuels, Chief of Police of Newark, California to the City of Palo Alto Taser Task Force. Click on the link above to watch a video of the presentation of this letter earlier this year to the Taser Task Force. In the end, Palo Alto city council approved the use of tasers in a very narrow vote - 5 to 4 - but ONLY in situations where lethal force would otherwise be allowed. Thank you to Chief Samuels and Aram James for permission to post this important viewpoint.
July 6, 2007
Thomas Clouse, Spokesman Review
Spokane, Washington
UPDATE - July 7, 2007: Spokane police detectives will not seek criminal charges against the Spokane Valley police officers.
Dr. John Howard listed the cause of death as "Hypoxic encephalopathy with pneumonia; cardiac arrest with resuscitation; methamphetamine associated excited delirium with restraint stress; and contributory Atherosclerotic cardio vascular disease,” according to a member ME Office’s administrative staff. That essentially means Yohe died as a result of not getting enough oxygen to his brain through a combination of factors including how he was restrained, drugs in his system and heart disease."
July 6, 2007
Patricia Jiayi Ho, Whittier Daily News
Richard Baisner, 36, UNARMED
Though he was unarmed, Baisner's behavior justified the use of force, police said, adding that the taser is considered a non-lethal weapon.
A Vernon, British Columbia RCMP spokesperson says: "The file will end up in our office and it will be duly investigated."
Yes, we were afraid of that.
See the archived map for the period February 2009 to February 2010 here.
