LIHU‘E — In a nutshell, the Kaua‘i Police Department’s electroshock gun policy states that the weapon should only be used on someone if he or she is actively resisting or exhibiting active aggression, KPD Lt. Danilo Abadilla said. Due to
LIHU‘E — In a nutshell, the Kaua‘i Police Department’s electroshock gun policy states that the weapon should only be used on someone if he or she is actively resisting or exhibiting active aggression, KPD Lt. Danilo Abadilla said.
Due to continual advances in Taser technology though, the policy is “always a work in progress,” said Abadilla, with KPD’s Research and Development section in the Administrative and Technical Bureau.
A recent incident in Lihu‘e has prompted some community members to voice their concerns over the policy.
Kalaheo resident Jonathan Jay claims KPD risked “massive liability” in the repeated use of a Taser to subdue Le Beau Lagmay, a mixed-martial arts fighter who allegedly threatened to kill three KPD officers during a drunk-driving/speeding/insubordination traffic stop last month.
Where Jay and Abadilla differ is in Jay’s calling the Taser a “lethal device.”
In KPD’s view, the Taser (a trademark name for the brand of electroshock guns some KPD officers carry) is “less than lethal force,” whereas the officer’s pistol with bullets is “deadly force,” Abadilla said.
The Taser alone acts as a deterrent and mitigates more potentially dangerous situations, he said.
“It’s a temporary hurt for the subject,” and a way for officers to avoid getting hurt or having to resort to deadly force on the job, Abadilla said.
Abadilla, who has never had to use a Taser in the field, said to his knowledge there have been no deaths, long-term health problems or lawsuits resulting from KPD deployment of Tasers.
In addition to the audio and video tapes automatically generated each time a Taser is deployed, officers who have used Tasers in the field (Eric Caspillo in the Lagmay case) have certain reports they have to file after Taser deployments.
Abadilla was waiting a few more days in order to get all the data he needs to compile a mandatory report for the U.S. Department of Justice on Taser use, due shortly after the end of each calendar year, he said.
The department is ready to order more Tasers for its men and women in the field. This is a good idea in terms of officer safety, especially since on any given shift there may be as few as three Tasers on the road with KPD officers, he said.
“More officers with Taser availability would be better,” Abadilla said.
Training is critical, like teaching officers they need to keep the Taser pointed at the subject in order to make sure the audio and video are actually of the subject at the time of the Taser use.
That’s different from officers pointing sidearms at subjects, as they’re trained to point the deadly-force weapon down instead of at a subject unless and until they’re ready to use it, he said.
Citizen input in suggested modifications to the Taser policy should be directed to KPD Chief Darryl Perry, dperry@kauai.gov or 241-1600.
