EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A new report from the Eugene police department says officers are now using Tasers more frequently than pepper spray when confronting resistant people.
The Eugene Register-Guard reports that in 2008 and 2009 officers used Tasers 49 times to subdue people, while pepper spray was used in 43 cases. In 2007 alone, a year before officers began carrying Tasers, officers used pepper spray 57 times.
The police department is considering buying more Tasers, but is awaiting for Police Chief Pete Kerns to sign off on changes to Taser use policy the city police commission is now considering.
Lt. Doug Mozan says the use of Tasers would lead to a drop in officer and suspect injuries.
