Council amends police taser policy

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

— City council members on Monday night unanimously approved a resolution amending the city’s policy regarding the use of tasers by the Gentry Police Department.

Amended in the policy, due to therecommendation of the manufacturer, is a paragraph identifying the primary target area for the taser as “below mid-sternum” or “just below center body mass.” It states that an emergency medical technician, paramedic or medical doctor shall remove the probe and medically clear the subject if a “probe penetrates the face, neck,groin or the female breast area.”

Another portion of the weapon-use policy was amended to say the taser should not generally be used on individuals who appear to be under the age of 14 years unless deadly force can be justified or direct contact with the juvenile could result in injury to the officer or the offender.

News, Pages 2 on 12/09/2009