BOULDER, Colo. -
The Boulder Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is asking police in that city to stop using Tasers after the stun gun's manufacturer admitted that, in rare cases, they can cause heart attacks.
Taser International released a "Training Bulletin" in early October warning of the remote chance that a shot to the upper chest could cause cardiac problems.
The Boulder ACLU had already asked Boulder Police to suspend their use of Tasers after a mentally handicapped man was Tasered twice this past July.
"There's an ever growing number of fatalities associated with the use of the Taser," Colorado ACLU Legal Director Mark Silverstein said.
"We are saying 'suspend them, re-evaluate,' especially in light of this very new information."
The Boulder Police Department, however, isn't going to holster the weapons, although they say they are reacting to the training bulletin.
"Our police chief, as soon as he became aware of it on October 12th, issued a directive to all of our officers to no longer shoot at the upper area of the torso," spokesperson Sarah Huntley said. "The alternative is the officer getting into hand-to-hand combat with somebody."
Huntley said the vast majority of time Tasers are drawn, they are used only as a deterrent, and are never fired.
The ACLU says they have no plans to sue right now. We also know the Denver Police department is taking a look at the Taser report.
Taser International released a "Training Bulletin" in early October warning of the remote chance that a shot to the upper chest could cause cardiac problems.
The Boulder ACLU had already asked Boulder Police to suspend their use of Tasers after a mentally handicapped man was Tasered twice this past July.
"There's an ever growing number of fatalities associated with the use of the Taser," Colorado ACLU Legal Director Mark Silverstein said.
"We are saying 'suspend them, re-evaluate,' especially in light of this very new information."
The Boulder Police Department, however, isn't going to holster the weapons, although they say they are reacting to the training bulletin.
"Our police chief, as soon as he became aware of it on October 12th, issued a directive to all of our officers to no longer shoot at the upper area of the torso," spokesperson Sarah Huntley said. "The alternative is the officer getting into hand-to-hand combat with somebody."
Huntley said the vast majority of time Tasers are drawn, they are used only as a deterrent, and are never fired.
The ACLU says they have no plans to sue right now. We also know the Denver Police department is taking a look at the Taser report.
