Tasers in schools sparks controversy
Lori Giguere
Issue date: 11/18/05 Section: News
The makers of Taser estimate that 1,700 police officers carried their product in the last year. However, controversy has swirled around the use of these non-lethal devices in middle and high schools around the country.
On October 20 of last year, Miami-Dade county police officers used a Taser to subdue a six-year-old Pharr Elementary School student.
Police responded to a call from Principal Maria Mason. Mason called 911 when the six year old broke a picture frame in her office and held a piece of glass, threatening to cut himself.
Officers were not able to convince the boy to drop the glass, and when he cut his own leg, one officer shocked him with the Taser and another caught him to prevent him from falling.
Retired Juvenile Judge Frank Orlando disagreed with the officers' use of the weapon. "It just sounds excessive to me to Taser gun a six year old...they couldn't subdue a six year old? Must have been a pretty big kid," said Orlando.
Juan DelCastillo, police spokesman, defended the officers' use of the Taser. "Sure he could have been tackled and maybe injured, maybe his arm broken or maybe that glass could have cut him in a critical area."
May 8, a 9-year-old girl was Tasered in Arizona by a South Tucson police sergeant. Police responded to a call from the Arizona Children's Home, a facility for special needs children.
Chief Sixto Molina said the call was in regards to a "runaway from the institution." Molina also said the child was handcuffed when the Taser was used.
Most recently in the news, at Pinellas Park High School police used a Taser on Doug Walker, an 18-year-old student.
According to the police report, Walker was swearing, kicking, and thrashing. "He was told to quit and he wouldn't quit," an officer told Bay News.
Walker's lawyer, John Trevena, fears that Tasers may be used in situations where they are not necessary. "The potential is there to have situations where it's misused," said Trevena.
On October 20 of last year, Miami-Dade county police officers used a Taser to subdue a six-year-old Pharr Elementary School student.
Police responded to a call from Principal Maria Mason. Mason called 911 when the six year old broke a picture frame in her office and held a piece of glass, threatening to cut himself.
Officers were not able to convince the boy to drop the glass, and when he cut his own leg, one officer shocked him with the Taser and another caught him to prevent him from falling.
Retired Juvenile Judge Frank Orlando disagreed with the officers' use of the weapon. "It just sounds excessive to me to Taser gun a six year old...they couldn't subdue a six year old? Must have been a pretty big kid," said Orlando.
Juan DelCastillo, police spokesman, defended the officers' use of the Taser. "Sure he could have been tackled and maybe injured, maybe his arm broken or maybe that glass could have cut him in a critical area."
May 8, a 9-year-old girl was Tasered in Arizona by a South Tucson police sergeant. Police responded to a call from the Arizona Children's Home, a facility for special needs children.
Chief Sixto Molina said the call was in regards to a "runaway from the institution." Molina also said the child was handcuffed when the Taser was used.
Most recently in the news, at Pinellas Park High School police used a Taser on Doug Walker, an 18-year-old student.
According to the police report, Walker was swearing, kicking, and thrashing. "He was told to quit and he wouldn't quit," an officer told Bay News.
Walker's lawyer, John Trevena, fears that Tasers may be used in situations where they are not necessary. "The potential is there to have situations where it's misused," said Trevena.