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« Central Falls: Second shooting victim dies | Today | Ethics Commission declines to investigate Lynch » August 22, 2006ACLU urges TASER moratoriumPROVIDENCE -- The head of Rhode Island's ACLU sent a letter to police chiefs across the state today, urging them to stop using TASER guns on suspects in light of the weekend death of a 41-year-old Woonsocket man. Timothy R. Picard died Sunday morning after being shot twice with a TASER gun while in police custody. The medical examiner has yet to release autopsy results detailing the cause of death. But in his letter, ACLU executive director Steven Brown blames the TASER for contributing to Picard's death. "Unfortunately, this death was in some sense inevitable in light of the continually-growing evidence that stun guns are not the non-lethal device that proponents purport them to be," Brown wrote. "At the very least, however, in light of the evidence that is already available, this death should serve as a wake-up call that the Taser’s use is potentially lethal and should only be employed as an alternative to deadly force." The Rhode Island ACLU sent a similar letter to police chiefs in 2004, urging department's to "carefully examine" their decision to use TASER guns. In today's letter, Brown called on police chief to implement a moratorium on TASER use "until additional information can be gathered on this tragic incident, until the safety of the weapon has been independently and more thoroughly scrutinized by your department, and until your department has had a chance to carefully review both its policies and training procedures governing the weapon’s use." Brown also requested copies of any policies, procedures and training materials police departments have regarding TASER use. -- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples Posted by Steve Peoples CommentsMark | August 22, 2006 12:07 PM link As a retired Lieutenant from the RI State Police I am adamently opposed to the use of Taser Guns. I live in No.Kingstown and the NKPD just got them and I don't believe they are necessary. Whatever happen to just taking people into custody the "old fashion" way, just subdueing them. No.Kingstown PD just last evening shot a 15 year old kid with a Taser Gun, I don't believe its necessary, what's happening is Cops are taking the easy way out, i.e. just shoot them with the Tasers why struggle with a felon and in many cases not even felons. don miller | August 22, 2006 12:13 PM link This man was handcuffed while he was shot TWICE with a 50,000 volt stun gun. How anyone can find that nessecary is beyond me. THis is more of an issue than "Americans being more concerned with the rights of the criminal than the victims." Jonathan Perri | August 23, 2006 10:09 AM link What's the best way to not get shot with a TASER? Don't commit a crime. This simple message brought to you by the same people that told you not to play with wild animals or eat yellow snow. It's not like the cops are running around town randomly shooting people with TASERS.... Greg | August 23, 2006 1:05 PM link “We need to understand that the real victim here is this man and his family. He was not a criminal. What happened to him could have happend to anyone.” How many people call the police to their home because they are afraid of the people they are with? I would venture to say very little. While the story doesn’t say, something bad must have been going on or the woman would not have made the phone call. Shouting matches are not something you call the police over. This man is indeed a criminal in the sense that law enforcement had to be called to restrain him. When he became a problem at the station I would think that if the officers could of gotten him in a cell, they would have. But if they didn’t taser him, what should they have done? Billy clubs? Black jacks? Just plain beat the h*ll out of him until unconscious? Gee, that would of set Mr. Brown off all over again. Seems sometimes the police just can’t win. Mark | August 23, 2006 2:43 PM link I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GUY WAS BEING DISORDERLY BUT STILL I FEEL THAT TASING A PERSON SPECIALLY TWICE IS UNCALLED FOR JUST LIKE WHEN THE GUY WAS SHOPLIFTING, AND HE WAS SHOT TO DEATH, I FEEL THAT SOMETIMES THE POLICE USE EXCESSIVE FORCE WHERE ITS NOT NEEDED, THEY COULD OF JUST HIT HIM WITH BEAN BAGS OR TRYED TALKING TO HIM BUT THESE POLICE OFFICERS IN RI ARE JUST OUT OF HAND, SPECAILLY IN PROVIDENCE. GOMES | August 25, 2006 10:48 AM link Yeah, the cops, when confronted with violence, should stop and have a dialogue with the perp instead of beating him with a stick or shocking him. I believe Carpio was being talked to when he jumped Jimmy Allen and shot him with his own gun. Shows how well 'talking' works in the face of scumbag criminals, now doesn't it? I wish the cops in RI were MORE aggressive. If a few more shoplifters and stick-up men get capped maybe the other scum will think twice. Greg | August 25, 2006 12:27 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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Oct 2005 - March 2006
While I understand the concern the ACLU has, what are police to do with someone who goes animal on them - 250 lbs worth at that? I'm sure we wouldn't have heard a word from Mr. Brown if an officer was hurt or even killed in the line of duty because there were no options open to them to subdue someone who goes nuts on them. But then, we as Americans tend to be more concerned with the rights of the criminal than the victims.