Published Sunday, 23 March, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Sport
The Honourable Judy Spence
Tasers to all frontline officers at Dutton Park
Police Minister Judy Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson today announced a new development in the roll out of tasers.
“All frontline police officers in Dutton Park will have access to tasers for three months to gather more information on use of the devices.
“Throughout April, May and June all 37 frontline general duties officers from Dutton Park will be able to use tasers in frontline policing.
“Since July last year tasers have been trialled across three regions with great success.
“That trial has been limited to District Duty Officers and Regional Duty Officers.
“These officers are usually the rank of Senior Sergeant and Inspector.
“Now we want to monitor the use of tasers by a group of first response officers of all ranks, gender, age, and length of service.
“The information will assist in developing policy, training and reporting arrangements for the use of tasers.
“It will also help with planning for the future roll out of tasers,” Ms Spence said.
Commissioner Atkinson said: “In preparation, frontline officers from Dutton Park have been thoroughly trained in the use of the devices.
“Dutton Park has been chosen because it is an inner metropolitan, medium sized station that deals with a variety of crimes, issues, and public events in a community with a wide demographic.
“Also, Dutton Park station is within the current trial area and therefore there is a strong accountability framework for tasers already in place.
“Eight tasers are being made available to meet the rostering requirements of the station and give each officer a taser while on duty.
“This exercise, to gather information on frontline taser use, was suggested by CMC Chair Robert Needham and senior police agreed it would be beneficial.
“The CMC and senior police are evaluating tasers at the end of the trial,” Commissioner Atkinson said.
Ms Spence also welcomed the recent comments by State Coroner Michael Barnes in relation to the deaths of four mentally ill men shot by police.
Mr Barnes found that if the officers involved had access to a taser gun it is likely they would have been deployed and such deployment may have resulted in each of the incidents being resolved without anyone being killed.
Media contact: 32396218
“All frontline police officers in Dutton Park will have access to tasers for three months to gather more information on use of the devices.
“Throughout April, May and June all 37 frontline general duties officers from Dutton Park will be able to use tasers in frontline policing.
“Since July last year tasers have been trialled across three regions with great success.
“That trial has been limited to District Duty Officers and Regional Duty Officers.
“These officers are usually the rank of Senior Sergeant and Inspector.
“Now we want to monitor the use of tasers by a group of first response officers of all ranks, gender, age, and length of service.
“The information will assist in developing policy, training and reporting arrangements for the use of tasers.
“It will also help with planning for the future roll out of tasers,” Ms Spence said.
Commissioner Atkinson said: “In preparation, frontline officers from Dutton Park have been thoroughly trained in the use of the devices.
“Dutton Park has been chosen because it is an inner metropolitan, medium sized station that deals with a variety of crimes, issues, and public events in a community with a wide demographic.
“Also, Dutton Park station is within the current trial area and therefore there is a strong accountability framework for tasers already in place.
“Eight tasers are being made available to meet the rostering requirements of the station and give each officer a taser while on duty.
“This exercise, to gather information on frontline taser use, was suggested by CMC Chair Robert Needham and senior police agreed it would be beneficial.
“The CMC and senior police are evaluating tasers at the end of the trial,” Commissioner Atkinson said.
Ms Spence also welcomed the recent comments by State Coroner Michael Barnes in relation to the deaths of four mentally ill men shot by police.
Mr Barnes found that if the officers involved had access to a taser gun it is likely they would have been deployed and such deployment may have resulted in each of the incidents being resolved without anyone being killed.
Media contact: 32396218