The Westport Representative Town Meeting voted on Tuesday (3/4) to postpone its debate on the purchase of stun guns for the Westport Police, which had requested $25,000 to buy 15 Tasers. (See Westport Now.)
Police Chief Al Fiore seemed surprised and disappointed that the debate was postponed – and well he should be. When the RTM postpones a debate, it usually means a majority of the members are looking for a way to vote no, but haven’t formulated their argument.
We at Politicus Machamux agree that it is disappointing that the Taser vote was postponed. The RTM should have debated on Tuesday and reached a final decision on this contentious issue.
We have opposed arming the police with Tasers, but – like many members of the RTM – we were willing to change our minds if Mr. Fiore could make a valid argument for Tasers. He didn’t.
Mr. Fiore suggested that his officers would use Tasers instead of guns when appropriate. But how often do they use guns? If only a few times a year, then maybe they don’t need Tasers.
Why didn’t somebody ask the police chief to provide some solid numbers? How often do Westport police officers unholster their firearms? How often do they fire them? How many times a year do Westport policemen get caught in a lethal firefight? If it happens frequently, then the police need every tool we can buy for them.
Mr. Fiore seemed to advance a second argument for Tasers: The Westport Police need them because they chase assailants who sometimes are bigger and stronger. That too is a valid argument, but it begs the question of procedure and accountability. As the video below shows, police can be tempted to use Tasers on a suspect who is passively resisting arrest.
Mr. Fiore said the Police Department would develop strict rules for using Tasers. He should have come to the RTM meeting with an outline of what those rules will be. Our police want to arm themselves with 50,000 volts of electricity. Before we give them that power, we have a right to know why they need it and how they will use it.
