Supplying Tasers for Anchorage Police A Feasibility Study

Supplying Tasers for Anchorage Police: A Feasibility Study English 212: Technical Writing Zach Erickson

Overview • Introduction • Criteria Questions • Methods • Results • Conclusions • Recommendations

Introduction • Examined the feasibility of funding Tasers for all Anchorage police officers • Researched current percentage of Taser use by Anchorage Police Department (APD) • Researched the pros and cons of using Tasers over other methods of force currently used by APD • Examined the financial aspect of supplying officers with Tasers

Criteria Questions • Is the use of Tasers by police legally defensible? • Will increased deployment of Tasers lead to fewer injuries and deaths for both police officers and suspects? • Is there funding within the department, or cuts that could be made, that allow for the purchase of Tasers at no additional cost to taxpayers?

Methods • Performed both primary and secondary research • Primary research consisted of a questionnaire distributed to fellow students • Secondary research consisted of using multiple online databases to locate six articles regarding the topic • Researched current percentage of Taser use by Anchorage Police Department (APD) • Researched the pros and cons of using Tasers over other methods of force currently used by APD • Researched the financial aspect of supplying Tasers to APD officers

Results-Legal Defense • Municipalities face the biggest threat of losing a lawsuit for unlawful tasering when policies regarding Taser use are too broad. • If proper training and proper policies are in place, the city will be at less risk to face a lawsuit • Officers are also rarely at risk for a lawsuit after a tasering

Results-Amount of Lives Saved • In 9 years, the use of Tasers decreased officer injuries 62 percent in Orlando, Florida and 25 percent in Austin, Texas

Results-Funding Tasers • Currently, APD has requested the city to provide an additional $47, 292 for Tasers and training • There are some grants available to help cover the cost of Tasers • Most citizens of Anchorage were willing to pay for Taser through their taxes

Primary Research Table 2. Would you be willing to have your taxes go up about $7 in order to pay for APD to have Tasers and Taser training for all officers?

Conclusions • There have been enough studies conducted to justify the purchasing of Tasers for APD • Two-thirds of participants were willing to pay additional taxes to support this purchase • Those who were surveyed said they trusted APD to use the weapons responsibly

Recommendations • APD should only purchase the pistol model Tasers, not buying the shotgun model would save them about $10, 000 overall • The department should also provide thorough training and subject all officers to a Taser before deployment • There are several options for funding this cause: grants, not filling one open patrol position, and tax money