What we do not know about police use of Tasers

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the police literature, select agency reports, and media publications to examine issues involving police use of Tasers™Design/methodology/approach – The focus of inquiry is on questions of policy development, deployment, training, use and impact of Tasers from organizational and community perspectives.Findings – Limited research reflects a lack of consensus in the development and application of policies related to Taser training and use. Variations in policy and training and the substitution of Tasers for other technologies across the use‐of‐force continuum result in operational inconsistency. This inconsistency makes it difficult to compare police departments in terms of the impact of Tasers on improved officer and citizen safety and reductions in the use of lethal force. This inconsistency is also reflected in media reports and has the potential to jeopardize community relations. Key policy issues center on length and content of training, training staff qu...