CJOB-68 (Manitoba, Canada): Police changing taser use policy

[Heidi]

10/8/2009

Winnipeg police will change the way they use the Taser device. Officers had been trained to shoot for the centre of mass, or torso, on a person but are now being told to aim lower, but avoid the groin area.

This follows a recent lawsuit against the makers of the stun gun --Taser International. The lawsuit said medical research concluded it's best to avoid aiming near the heart.

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The use of the Taser has drawn controversy following deaths, including Robert Dziekanski who died after being tasered at the Vancouver Airport in 2007.

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Apparently, The city of Calgary instructed its officers on Wednesday to make the changes.

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Related: Taser video unreliable, Mounties' lawyers say