Following the University of Michigan Police Department’s announcement about the deployment of Tasers for trained police officers, a list of questions and answers are provided below. Have a question we haven’t answered already? Email us at dpss-safety-security@umich.edu.
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The protection of our entire community, including students, faculty and staff, as well as our officers, is the top priority for the University of Michigan Police and the Division of Public Safety and Security. The addition of Tasers addresses a gap between the current options: chemical spray or baton and a firearm. Tasers can provide an alternative to lethal force and enable officers to arrest violent individuals more safely and effectively. This is a safety benefit for both the subject and the officer.
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Yes. The University of Michigan Police Department has a comprehensive policy in place. Officers are required to successfully complete training before a Taser is issued, and will be required to complete annual refresher training.
Officers are authorized to only use Tasers on subjects who are resisting arrest or who are threatening serious harm to themselves or others. Under the policy, officers are prohibited from using the devices against compliant or passively resisting individuals. In all cases, the use of a Taser will require a through post-use evaluation by a supervising officer and the generation of a use of force report.
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The Division of Public Safety and Security and University of Michigan Police Department leadership collaborated to develop a comprehensive policy. The policy conforms to best practices widely accepted by police departments across the country.
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Three University of Michigan police officers were trained and certified by Axon as official Taser instructors. Those officers conducted joint training sessions for all U-M police officers. All officers who carry Tasers are required to complete the initial certification training course, in addition to required annual refresher training. This includes practical, hands-on instruction as well as classroom training. All officers are required to pass a written test and demonstrate proficiency with the device before the Taser can be issued to the officer.
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The decision to add Tasers as an option for University of Michigan police officers was made after years of research and discussion by police and university leadership. A recommendation from the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing was among this research and suggested the development and implementation of less-lethal technology.
We continuously explore options for equipping our officers with the tools to manage situations as safely and effectively as possible. Once the decision to move forward was made, it took more than a year to formulate the policy, implement training and purchase the devices.
With UMPD’s deployment of Tasers, now all local law enforcement in Washtenaw County utilize Tasers.
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No. The decision to add Tasers was made after careful deliberation and the proven ability of the devices to help reduce injuries to both suspects and police. These devices provide a safer option for taking individuals into custody who are resisting and clearly at risk of harming themselves or others.
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Tasers are widely used by law enforcement agencies across the U.S. With UMPD’s deployment of Tasers, now all local law enforcement in Washtenaw County utilize Tasers, including the Michigan State Police. Additionally, 9 out of 14 police departments in the Big Ten Conference now have implemented Tasers.
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While the use of any method of subduing a violent, resisting subject, unfortunately, comes with some risk of injury for the subject and the officer, the appropriate use of a Taser has reduced this risk significantly.
Independent studies have shown Tasers to be as safe as or even safer than other use-of-force methods available to law enforcement. “Researchers found a 70 percent decrease in officer injuries and a 40 percent decrease in suspect injuries,” according to one study.
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Emergency medical personnel will be called to assist and offer medical care to the subject as necessary.
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University of Michigan police officers who have successfully completed training will begin carrying Tasers on July 1, 2018.
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The X-2 Taser.
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The University of Michigan has purchased 20 Tasers.
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The University has purchased 20 Tasers and related equipment for approximately $33,000 (paid over a five-year period). We believe this initiative to be an important investment in the safety of our community members while enhancing the protection we provide our officers.
