Tasers and Community Controversy: Investigating Training Officer Perceptions of Public Concern Over Conducted Energy Weapons

Authors

Joseph De Angelis, Regis University
Brian Wolf, University of IdahoFollow

Abstract

Over the last several decades, “Tasers,” “stun guns” and other conducted energy devices (CEDs) have become a widely adopted, though publicly controversial, form of police restraint technology. While there is a growing body of research on the physiological effects of these types of weapons, less attention has been devoted to the social effects of this technology. This paper draws on in - depth interviews with a stratified random sample of police training officers from two states (n=27) to explore the effect that community controversy over the use of CEDs has had on police organizational practices. In particular, we explore how police training officers: (a ) Represent the sources of recent community controversies relating to CEDs; (b ) Characterize the effects that community controversy has on officer practices and policy development.

Keywords

Use-of-Force, Tasers, Controversy, Community, Police Training, In - Depth Interviews

Acknowledgements

We would like thank Brandon Long for his outstanding research assistance on this project. This research was partially funded by the University of Idaho’s, 2009-2010 Faculty Seed Grant Program.

Publication Date

4-1-2013

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2013.1540

Recommended APA Citation

De Angelis, J., & Wolf, B. (2013). Tasers and Community Controversy: Investigating Training Officer Perceptions of Public Concern Over Conducted Energy Weapons. The Qualitative Report, 18(13), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2013.1540