In the first six months of this year, more than two dozen people were allegedly killed in police-involved shootings. More often than not, these killings sparked rage, anger and protests in the communities where they occurred.
It should be welcome news, therefore, that the T&T Police Service (TTPS) is adding to its’ arsenal, the electronically controlled device more commonly known as the Taser, which provides a significant option for non-lethal use of force by police officers.
The device makes it possible for potentially violent confrontations to be brought to a relatively safe conclusion without the use of deadly force. Tasers are not meant to replace firearms but are a safer means of dealing with certain law enforcement situations. It is essentially an incapacitation device that allows officers to maintain a safe distance while rendering a threat incapable of fighting back.
In potentially threatening situations, officers holster the Taser in a yellow holder on the opposite side of where their weapon is held and alerts the offender before firing the metal darts or probes by shouting: “Taser, Taser, Taser.”
When the probes are fired, they enter the target’s skin or become lodged in clothing and remain close to the body, incapacitating the offender.
Police Commissioner Gary Griffith acknowledges that use of the Tasers may have varying results, but he argued that the risks are inherently minimal compared to the use of a firearm, which often has one result.
It is plausible to argue that some of the lives taken allegedly at the hands of the police using firearms could have been saved had tasers been used. That is not to say that this method is completely foolproof but it is certainly a step in the right direction.
The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has endorsed the use of the Tasers citing the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions which has as one of its principles: “Law enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, shall, as far as possible, apply non-violent means before resorting to the use of force and firearms. They may use force and firearms only if other means remain ineffective or without any promise of achieving the intended result.”
The PCA believes that the introduction of Tasers will improve the levels of accountability in the conduct of police operations as a non-lethal option to officers of the TTPS.
While it’s the first time the non-lethal weapons are being used in T&T, Tasers are already in use in several countries, including the United States. We hope officers who given the device will use it always as a first option and safeguard against the use of excessive force.