With little fanfare, the Minneapolis Police Department updated a number of policies, including its use of force policy and Taser policy, as of October 1. The changes are reflected in the city's online Policy and Procedure Manual.
Under these new policies, Tasers are now considered "less lethal" rather than nonlethal.Their actions can be directly attributed to the deaths of Quincy Smith and David Cornelius Smith.
The new policy makes it clear that Tasers neither can be used on passive resistors or simply non-compliant suspects. Given the large number of complaints from citizens being electrocuted with a taser gun while handcuffed simply for speaking, if the policy is actually followed this could bring relief to the Minneapolis community.
I wonder if similar changes are being made in other cities around the nation? Do you know where the online version of the 'use of force' policy can be found in your city? If so, please share it with me. I would like to begin tracking links to these policies around the nation whenever possible.
