JUSTICE DEPT. LOOKS INTO DEATHS OF PEOPLE SUBDUED BY STUN GUNS

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the deaths of
up to 180 people who died after law enforcement officers used stun
guns or other electro-shock devices to subdue them.

"These deaths raise a question in our mind that should be examined,"
said Glenn Schmitt, acting director of the department's National
Institute of Justice. He said the review will initially focus on 30
deaths, including one from two decades ago.

Most of the deaths occurred within the past four years, corresponding
with the mass deployment of stun guns to police departments
throughout the country. A number of departments have re-evaluated
their use of the weapons because of the fatal incidents.

More than 80 deaths since 1999 were identified in a recent analysis
by The Arizona Republic. Amnesty International has identified more
than 150 deaths since 2001.

The devices, marketed as alternatives to lethal force, are designed
to incapacitate unruly suspects through electric shock.

Taser International, the nation's largest maker of stun guns, has
supplied more than 130,000 devices to about 7,000 of the nation's
16,000 police agencies.

The company has maintained that its products are safe and have saved
the lives of police officers and suspects.

"As we know, in-custody deaths are part of policing," Taser spokesman
Steve Tuttle said when asked about the Justice Department review.
"The more we can study and understand the circumstances that lead to
in-custody deaths, the more opportunities there are to develop law
enforcement tactics and procedures that will help prevent these
unfortunate events in the future."

According to Taser, the company is a named defendant in 49 lawsuits
alleging either wrongful death or personal injury. An additional 20
lawsuits have been dismissed.

The Justice Department review, which could take up to two years, was
proposed last year after law enforcement authorities expressed
concern about the increasing numbers of deaths after stun guns were
used to incapacitate suspects, Schmitt said.

Schmitt said the review will enlist the help of the National
Association of Medical Examiners, the American College of
Pathologists, the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Teams of medical examiners will begin reviewing individual cases this fall.

Amnesty International called the Justice review a "good first step."

"The fact that the government is doing this is an important
acknowledgement that there is a serious problem," said Dalia Hashad,
director of Amnesty's USA Program. "People are dying needlessly. It's
important that the federal government is taking this responsibility."

Last year, the IACP recommended that law enforcement agencies closely
monitor use of the devices after noting safety concerns involving stun guns.

Schmitt said investigators are expected to examine a range of issues
in each case, including ages, weight, possible physical impairments,
evidence of drug use and other factors that could have contributed to
the deaths.

In addition, Schmitt said, investigators will explore a phenomenon
known as "excited delirium," in which a shutdown of bodily functions
occurs after sensory overload.

Schmitt said the department is not urging any immediate change in the
deployment of the devices.

"There is no reason to do anything different for now," he said.
"We'll let the research answer the questions."