Stun-gun maker hires police to tout weapon - Critics say practice could represent conflict of...

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 2/21/5 | Alan Gathright

[SmithL]

The maker of a police stun gun associated with the deaths of 93 people, including several in Northern California, has hired hundreds of officers to peddle the electroshock device to law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area and across the nation.

Critics question whether Taser International's 263 police consultants, dubbed "master instructors,'' are making it clear to law enforcement agencies that they are working for the stun-gun maker or giving the impression that they represent their departments. Two months ago, a Minnesota officer quit after superiors found he had been moonlighting for Taser without their approval.

"When a police department contacts one of these master instructors for information or a demonstration, do they identify themselves as someone who's been paid by Taser International?" asked John Crew, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. "The potential conflict of interest is huge.''

[SmithL]

or hugh, as the case may be.

[Lowell]

I am an x cop. I'm going home at shift change. I have two defensive tools, my side-arm and a baton. If some dude wants to fight and I have a Taizer he is going to get lit-up. I'm not going home with stitches in my head or beat up because of some jerk. If I told someone to do something a couple of times and they want to get it on they will have so many sparks coming off of their ears you could light a cigarette.

[CAWats]

Let's get rid of stun guns and use real guns and bullets.

[eno_]

I agree. Equipping your avaergae lunkhead cop with a convenient easy to use torture device is not going to work out real good.