Jun 9, 2008 7:07 pm US/Eastern
Recommendation: Outfit NYPD With Taser Guns
Rand Corp. Says Controversial Weapons Will Minimize, Death; Rev. Sharpton, Civil Liberties Groups Outraged
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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If the Rand Corp.'s recommendations are followed, the NYPD will eventually outfit all 30,000 of its officers with controversial Taser guns.
A new report on the NYPD's firearms training done in the wake of the Sean Bell shooting was drawing fire Monday night.
The report recommends arming the entire department with a controversial weapon.
Police firearms training came under heavy criticism in the aftermath of the Bell shooting when 50 shots were fired at Bell and his friends.
On Monday, a new report had a surprising recommendation to prevent such multi-shot incidents.
"The outcomes might have been different if the officers had less than lethal devices other than pepper spray," said Dr. Bernard Rostker of the Rand Corporation.
The Rand Corp. is a non-profit organization that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis. Rand offers its insight to companies and civil services in business, education, health, law and science, according to its official Web site.
Rand experts recommend that the NYPD issue Taser guns to more of its patrol officers so they can stun victims instead of shooting them.
"Tasers reduce injuries to citizens, reduce injuries to police officers and reduce the use of firearms," Rostker said.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said the Department would "probably" do a pilot study on the increased use of Tasers, but not if a cop is staring down the barrel of a gun.
"These weapons are not a substitute for firearms they augment," Kelly said. "They're another tool in the tool box, but they're not a substitute to use against deadly physical force."
Civil liberties groups have strong reservations about Tasers.
"The big concern with Tasers is its 50,000 volts of electricity police officers will be shooting at people," said Christopher Dunn, associate legal director of the NYCLU. "Many people have died as the result of Tasers."
The report was also criticized for not evaluating the actions of the officers in the Bell case.
"It does address the issue of race in shootings," Dunn said.
The Rev. Al Sharpton blasted the NYPD over the report.
"For the police department to release a report that does not address the case that everyone in the city has emotional and passionate opinions about, pro and con, is to be irresponsible," Sharpton said.
The report has dozens of recommendations, but given the city's budget woes, it's unclear how many will be adopted.
Tasers cost $400 each, $12 million to buy 30,000, and then there's the cost of training.
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