Las Vegas Sun

November 14, 2009

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Editorial: Taser policy changes

Friday, Nov. 5, 2004 | 9:02 a.m.

About four months ago 26-year-old William Lomax, who was under the influence of PCP and struggling violently with police officers, died after Metro Police repeatedly shocked him with a Taser gun while he was handcuffed. It was the second time someone had died from Metro Police's use of a Taser gun, prompting the department to review its policies regarding the weapon's use. That review has been completed and we're glad to see that under new policies to take effect Nov. 15, officers no longer will be able to use a Taser gun on someone who is handcuffed and they will be discouraged from placing the gun against a person's body to produce multiple shocks.

We agree with Metro Police that the Taser gun can be an effective weapon, one that, when used appropriately against a violent suspect, can save lives. It's much safer to disable someone with electrical impulses from a Taser gun than to shoot him with bullets. Nonetheless, even a Taser can kill and Metro Police should continuously assess the weapon's use to ensure that it remains a safe alternative.

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