SF Forum On The Danger Of Tasers

1/16 SF Forum And The Danger Of Tasers
PUBLIC PANEL DISCUSSION DANGERS OF TASERS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY, 100 Larkin Street,
MAIN BRANCH, CIVIC CENTER, LATINO ROOM

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE

Jeremy Miller, anti-Taser activist, Idriss Stelley Foundation
(moderator)

Aram James, activist and former Palo Alto Public Defender,
and expert on nation-wide dangers of Tasers

La Mesha Stelley, Idriss Stelley Foundation

Marion Jackson, founder Officers for Justice,
retired Inspector, San Francisco Police Department

Jennifer Friedenbach Executive Director,
Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco

Steve Zeltzer, United Public Workers For Action

Sponsored by
Idriss Stelley Foundation

Electronic Village
This blog seeks to look at events thru the perspective of Black people. We seek the Nguzo Saba 365/7 on on our blog. Please be active as a villager by using the COMMENT OPTION on blog posts, Subscribe to our blog, introduce yourself or view our most popular posts!

634 Taser-Related Deaths in the United States Since 2001
Amnesty International's list of Taser-related deaths in USA

http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/taser-related-deaths-in-united-states.html

http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/taser-related-deaths-in-united-states.html

October 13, 2014

634 Taser-Related Deaths in the United States Since 2001

Today we added 54-year old Macario Garcia (Pleasanton, TX) as the 283rd taser-related death in America since 2009. [NOTE: the full list is shown below].

According to Amnesty International, between 2001 and 2008, 351 people in the United States died after being shocked by police Tasers. Our blog has documented another 283 taser-related deaths in the United States in 2009-2014. That means there have been 634 documented taser-related deaths in America.

This blog has been pointing out incidents of police taser torture for quite awhile. The work done over the past few years by Patti Gillman and Cameron Ward continue to be the inspiration for our work. Gillman and Ward documented over 869 taser-related deaths in North America on their blog.

I wonder if anyone cares about the rising use of the taser as a lethal weapon? At least we know that the Department of Justice cares. They issued a report about the pattern of abuse against the mentally ill in Portland that included the frequent, unnecessary use of Tasers. Recent deaths have begun to reignite the debate on taser torture. They are protesting in Phoenix, Arizona and the ACLU says that taser policies are ineffective in Iowa.

On the other hand, I think that something is wrong in America when the police electrocute folks on a WEEKLYbasis with their taser arsenal ... and the public is mute in its response. Cops are so liberal with their use of the taser that a blind man isn't safe! Sometimes it takes a lawsuit ... like the one recently settled in Ohio ... to get the police to cool it. The police in Cincinnati, Ohio took the hint ... they changed their taser policy! The top cop in Georgia thinks it is time to get more training. The police chief in Dallas purchased taser guns that he thinks will be safer.

I encourage you to use our COMMENTS ('Post a Comment') option at the bottom of this blog post to let us know what you think about these weekly taser-related killings.

• Jan 9, 2009: Derrick Jones, 17, Black, Martinsville, Virginia

• Jan 11, 2009: Rodolfo Lepe, 31, Hispanic, Bakersfield, California

• Jan 22, 2009: Roger Redden, 52, Caucasian, Soddy Daisy, Tennessee-

• Feb 2, 2009: Garrett Jones, 45, Caucasian, Stockton, California

• Feb 11, 2009: Richard Lua, 28, Hispanic, San Jose, California

• Feb 13, 2009: Rudolph Byrd, 37, Black, Thomasville, Georgia

• Feb 13, 2009: Michael Jones, 43, Black, Iberia, Louisiana

• Feb 14, 2009: Chenard Kierre Winfield, 32, Black, Los Angeles, California

• Feb 28, 2009: Robert Lee Welch, 40, Caucasian, Conroe, Texas

• Mar 22, 2009: Brett Elder, 15, Caucasian, Bay City, Michigan

• Mar 26, 2009: Marcus D. Moore, 40, Black, Freeport, Illinois

• Apr 1, 2009: John J. Meier Jr., 48, Caucasian, Tamarac, Florida

• Apr 6, 2009: Ricardo Varela, 41, Hispanic, Fresno, California

• Apr 10, 2009: Robert Mitchell, 16, Black, Detroit, Michigan

• Apr 13, 2009: Craig Prescott, 38, Black, Modesto, California

• Apr 16, 2009: Gary A. Decker, 50, Black, Tuscon, Arizona

• Apr 18, 2009: Michael Jacobs Jr., 24, Black, Fort Worth, Texas

• Apr 30, 2009: Kevin LaDay, 35, Black, Lumberton, Texas

• May 4, 2009: Gilbert Tafoya, 53, Caucasian, Holbrook, Arizona

• May 17, 2009: Jamaal Valentine, 27, Black, La Marque, Texas

• May 23, 2009: Gregory Rold, 37, Black, Salem, Oregon

• Jun 9, 2009: Brian Cardall, 32, Caucasian, Hurricane, Utah

• Jun 13, 2009: Dwight Madison, 48, Black, Bel Air, Maryland

• Jun 20, 2009 Derrek Kairney, 36, Caucasian, South Windsor, Connecticut

• Jun 30, 2009, Shawn Iinuma, 37, Asian, Fontana, California

• Jul 2, 2009, Rory McKenzie, 25, Black, Bakersfield, California

• Jul 20, 2009, Charles Torrence, 35, Caucasian, Simi Valley, California

• Jul 30, 2009, Johnathan Michael Nelson, 27, Caucasian, Riverside County, California

• Aug 9, 2009, Terrace Clifton Smith, 52, Black, Moreno Valley, California

• Aug 12, 2009, Ernest Ridlehuber, 53, Race: Unknown, Greenville, South Carolina

• Aug 14, 2009, Hakim Jackson, 31, Black, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Aug 18, 2009, Ronald Eugene Cobbs, 38, Black, Greensboro, North Carolina

• Aug 20, 2009, Francisco Sesate, 36, Hispanic, Mesa, Arizona

• Aug 22, 2009, T.J. Nance, 37, Race: Unknown, Arizona City, Arizona

• Aug 26, 2009, Miguel Molina, 27, Hispanic, Los Angeles, California

• Aug 27, 2009, Manuel Dante Dent, 27, Hispanic, Modesto, California

• Sep 3, 2009, Shane Ledbetter, 38, Caucasian, Aurora, Colorado

• Sep 16, 2009, Alton Warren Ham, 45, Caucasian, Modesto, California

• Sep 19, 2009, Yuceff W. Young II, 21, Black, Brooklyn, Ohio

• Sep 21, 2009, Richard Battistata, 44, Hispanic, Laredo, Texas

• Sep 28, 2009, Derrick Humbert, 38, Black, Bradenton, Florida

• Oct 2, 2009, Rickey Massey, 38, Black, Panama City, Florida

• Oct 12, 2009, Christopher John Belknap, 36, Race: Unknown, Ukiah, California

• Oct 16, 2009, Frank Cleo Sutphin, 19, Caucasian, San Bernadino, California

• Oct 27, 2009, Jeffrey Woodward, 33, Caucasian, Gallatin, Tennessee

• Nov 13, 2009, Herman George Knabe, 58, Caucasian, Corpus Christi, Texas

• Nov 14, 2009, Darryl Bain, 43, Black, Coram, New York

• Nov 16, 2009, Matthew Bolick, 30, Caucasian, East Grand Rapids, Michigan

• Nov 19, 2009, Jesus Gillard, 61, Black, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

• Nov 21, 2009, Ronald Petruney, 49, Caucasian, Washington, Pennsylvania

• Nov 27, 2009, Eddie Buckner, 53, Caucasian, Chattanooga, Tennessee

• Dec 11, 2009, Andrew Grande, 33, Caucasian, Oak County, Florida

• Dec 11, 2009, Hatchel Pate Adams III, 36, Black, Hampton, Virginia

• Dec 11, 2009, Paul Martin Martinez, 36, Hispanic, Roseville, California

• Dec 13, 2009, Douglas Boucher, 39, Caucasian, Mason, Ohio

• Dec 14, 2009, Linda Hicks, 62, Black, Toledo, Ohio

• Dec 19, 2009, Preston Bussey III, 41, Black, Rockledge, Florida

• Dec 20, 2009, Michael Hawkins, 39, Caucasian, Springfield, Missouri

• Dec 30, 2009, Stephen Palmer, 47, Race: Unknown, Stamford, Connecticut

• Jan 6, 2010, Delano Smith, 21, Black, Elkhart, Indiana

• Jan 17, 2010, William Bumbrey III, 36, Black, Arlington, Virginia

• Jan 20, 2010, Kelly Brinson, 45, Black, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Jan 27, 2010, Joe Spruill, Jr., Black, Goldsboro, North Carolina

• Jan 28, 2010, Patrick Burns, 50, Caucasian, Sangamon County, Illinois

• Jan 28, 2010, Daniel Mingo, 25, Black, Mobile, Alabama

• Feb 4, 2010, Mark Morse, 36, Caucasian, Phoenix, Arizona

• Mar 4, 2010, Roberto Olivo, 33, Hispanic, Tulare, California

• Mar 5, 2010, Christopher Wright, 48, Black, Seattle, Washington

• Mar 10, 2010, Jaesun Ingles, 31, Black, Midlothian, Illinois

• Mar 10, 2010, James Healy Jr., 44, Race: Unknown, Rhinebeck, New York

• Mar 20, 2010, Albert Valencia, 31, Hispanic, Downey, California

• Apr 10, 2010, Daniel Joseph Barga, 24, Caucasian, Cornelius, Oregon

• Apr 30, 2010, Adil Jouamai, 32, Moroccan, Arlington, Virginia

• May 9, 2010, Audreacus Davis, 29, Black, Atlanta, Georgia

• May 14, 2010, Sukeba Olawunmi, 39, Black, Atlanta, Georgia

• May 24, 2010, Efrain Carrion, 35, Hispanic, Middletown, Connecticut

• May 27, 2010, Carl Johnson, 48, Caucasian, Baltimore, Maryland

• May 29, 2010, Jose Martinez, 53, Hispanic, Waukegan, Illinois

• May 31, 2010, Anastasio Hernández Rojas, 42, Hispanic, San Ysidro, California

• Jun 8, 2010, Terrelle Houston, 22, Black, Hempstead, Texas

• Jun 12, 2010, Curtis Robinson, 34, Black, Albuquerque, New Mexico

• Jun 13, 2010, William Owens, 17, Black, Homewood, Alabama

• Jun 14, 2010, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, 42, Hispanic, Harris County, Texas

• Jun 15, 2010, Michael White, 47, Black, Vallejo, California

• Jun 22, 2010, Daniel Sylvester, 35, Caucasian, Crescent City, California

• July 5, 2010, Damon Falls, 31, Black, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• July 5, 2010, Edmund Gutierrez, 22, Hispanic, Imperial, California

• July 8, 2010, Phyllis Owens, 87, Caucasian, Clackamas County, Oregon

• July 9, 2010, Marvin Booker, 56, Black, Denver, Colorado

• July 12, 2010, Anibal Rosario-Rodriguez, 61, Hispanic, New Britain, Connecticut

• July 15, 2010, Jerome Gill, Race: Unknown, Chicago, Illinois

• July 18, 2010, Edward Stephenson, 46, Caucasian, Leavenworth, Kansas

• July 23, 2010, Jermaine Williams, 30, Black, Cleveland, Mississippi

• Aug 1, 2010, Dennis Sandras, 49, Caucasian, Houma, Louisiana

• Aug 9, 2010, Andrew Torres, 39, Hispanic, Greenville, South Carolina

• Aug 18, 2010, Martin Harrison, 50, Caucasian, Dublin, California

• Aug 19, 2010, Adam Disalvo, 30, Caucasian, Daytona Beach, Florida

• Aug 20, 2010, Stanley Jackson, 31, Black, Washtenaw County, Michigan

• Aug 24, 2010, Michael Ford, 50, Black, Livonia, Michigan

• Aug 25, 2010, Eduardo Hernandez-Lopez, 21, Hispanic, Las Vegas, Nevada

• Aug 31, 2010, King Hoover, 27, Black, Spanaway, Washington

• Sep 4, 2010, Adam Colliers, 25, Caucasian, Gold Bar, Washington

• Sep 10, 2010, Larry Rubio, 20, Caucasian, Leemore, California

• Sep 12, 2010, Freddie Lockett, 30, Black, Dallas, Texas

• Sep 16, 2010, Gary L. Grossenbacher, 48, Caucasian, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• Sep 18, 2010, David Cornelius Smith, 28, Black, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Sep 18, 2010, Joseph Frank Kennedy, 48, Caucasian, La Mirada, California

• Oct 4, 2010, Javon Rakestrau, 28, Black, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana

• Oct 7, 2010, Patrick Johnson, 18, Caucasian, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Oct 12, 2010, Ryan Bain, 31, Caucasian, Billings, Montana

• Oct 14, 2010, Karreem Ali, 65, Black, Silver Spring, Maryland

• Oct 19, 2010, Troy Hooftallen, 36, Caucasian, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania

• Nov 4, 2010, Eugene Lamott Allen, 40, Race: Unknown, Wilmington, Delaware

• Nov 6, 2010, Robert Neill, Jr., 61, Caucasian, Mount Joy, Pennsylvania

• Nov 7, 2010, Mark Shaver, 32, Caucasian, Brimfield, Ohio

• Nov 23, 2010, Denevious Thomas, 36, Black, Albany, Georgia

• Nov 26, 2010, Rodney Green, 36, Black, Waco, Texas

• Nov 27, 2010, Blaine McElroy, 37, Race: Unknown, Jackson County, Mississippi

• Dec 2, 2010, Clayton Early James, Age: Unknown, Black, Elizabeth City, North Carolina

• Dec 11, 2010, Anthony Jones, 44, Black, Las Vegas, Nevada

• Dec 12, 2010, Linel Lormeus, 26, Black, Naples, Florida

• Dec 20, 2010, Christopher Knight, 35, Black, Brunswick, Georgia

• Dec 31, 2010, Rodney Brown, 40, Black, Cleveland, Ohio

• Jan 5, 2011, Kelly Sinclair, 41, Caucasian, Amarillo, Texas

• Feb 5, 2011, Robert Ricks, 23, Black, Alexandria, Louisiana

• Feb 24, 2011, Jermaine Sanford, 36, Race: Unknown, Los Angeles, California

• March 14, 2011, Christopher Davis, 36, Race: Unknown, Los Angeles, California

• March 15, 2011, Brandon Bethea, 24, Black, Harnett County, North Carolina

• March 17, 2011, Chris Apericio, 24, Hispanic, Las Cruces, New Mexico

• March 20, 2011, Dale Lee Mitchell, 34, Black, Pinellas Park, Florida

• March 21, 2011, Jerry Perea, 38, Hispanic, Albuquerque, New Mexico

• March 24, 2011, Johnny Leija, 34, Hispanic, Madill, Oklahoma

• April 3, 2011, Jairious McGhee, 23, Black, Tampa, Florida

• April 4, 2011, Demetrius Johnson, 38, Black, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• April 9, 2011, Ervin Motley, 38, Black, Forrest City, Arkansas

• April 13, 2011, Casey Babovec, 30, Caucasian, Saline County, Arkansas

• April 22, 2011, Adam Spencer Johnson, 33, Caucasian, Orlando, Florida

• April 23, 2011, Ronald Armstrong, 43, Caucasian, Pinehurst, North Carolina

• April 25, 2011, Kevin Darius Campbell, 39, Black, Tallahassee, Florida

• May 1, 2011, Marcus Brown, 26, Black, Waterbury, Connecticut

• May 6, 2011, Matthew Mittelstadt, 56, Caucasian, Boundary County, Idaho

• May 6, 2011, Daniel McDonnell, 40, Caucasian, West Babylon, New York

• May 11, 2011, Allen Kephart, 43, Caucasian, San Bernadino County, California

• June 13, 2011, Howard Hammon, 41, Caucasian, Middleburg, Ohio

• June 22, 2011, Otto Kolberg, 55, Caucasian, Waycross, Georgia

• June 28, 2011, Dalric East, 40, Black, Montgomery County, Maryland

• July 5, 2011, Kelly Thomas, 37, Caucasian, Fullerton, California

• July 10, 2011, Joshua Nossoughi, 32, Caucasian, Springfield, Missouri

• July 19, 2011, Alonzo Ashley, 29, Black, Denver, Colorado

• July 21, 2011, La'Reko Williams, 21, Black, Charlotte, North Carolina

• July 30, 2011, Donald Murray, 39, Caucasian, Westland, Michigan

• August 4, 2011, Pierre Abernathy, 30, Black, San Antonio, Texas

• August 6, 2011, Everette Howard, 18, Black, Cincinnati, Ohio

• August 6, 2011, Debro Wilkerson, 29, Black, Prince William County, Maryland

• August 6, 2011, Gregory Kralovetz, 50, Caucasian, Kaukauna, Wisconsin

• August 12, 2011, Joseph Lopez, 49, Hispanic, Santa Barbara, California

• August 17, 2011, Roger Chandler, 41, Caucasian, Helena, Montana

• August 21, 2011, Montalito McKissick, 37, Black, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• August 24, 2011, Michael Evans, 56, Race: Unknown, Fayetteville, North Carolina

• August 30, 2011, Nicholas Koscielniak, 27, Caucasian, Lancaster, New York

• September 11, 2011, Tyree Sinclair, 31, Black, Corpus Christi, Texas

• September 13, 2011, Damon Barnett, 44, Caucasian, Fresno, California

• September 17, 2011, Richard Kokenos, 27, Caucasian, Warren, Michigan

• September 24, 2011, Bradford Gibson, 35, Black, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan

• September 24, 2011, Donacio Rendon, 43, Hispanic, Lubbock, Texas

• September 29, 2011, Howard Cook, 35, Black, York, Pennsylvania

• October 4, 2011, Glenn Norman, 46, Caucasian, Camden County, Missouri

• October 9, 2011, Darnell Hutchinson, 32, Black, San Leandro, California

• October 31, 2011, Chad Brothers, 32, Caucasian, Colonie, New York

• November 6, 2011, Darrin Hanna, 43, Black, North Chicago, Illinois

• November 13, 2011, Ronald Cristiano, 51, Caucasian, Bridgeport, Connecticut

• November 15, 2011, Jonathan White, 29, Black, San Bernardino, California

• November 22, 2011, Roger Anthony, 61, Black, Scotland Neck, North Carolina

• December 16, 2011, Marty Atencio, 44, Hispanic, Phoenix, Arizona

• December 22, 2011, Wayne Williams, 27, Black, Houma, Louisiana

• December 25, 2011, Micah Abbey, 33, Caucasian, Reno, Nevada

• January 2, 2012, Mario Marin, 53, Caucasian, Santa Ana, California

• January 15, 2012, Daniel Guerra, 24, Hispanic, Ft. Worth, Texas

• January 15, 2012, Hutalio Serrano, 43, Hispanic, Colton, California

• January 24, 2012, Thomas Lumpkin, 57, Black, Alamance County, North Carolina

• January 29, 2012, Camilo Guzman, 28, Hispanic, North Miami, Florida

• February 10, 2012, Marius Asanachescu, 28, Caucasian, Clark County, Washington

• February 13, 2012, Johnnie Warren, 43, Race: Unknown, Dothan, Alabama

• February 16, 2012, Charmin Bennett, 30, Black, Donaldsville, Louisiana

• February 29, 2012, Raymond Allen, 34, Black, Galveston, Texas

• March 5, 2012, Nehemiah Dillard, 29, Black, Gainesville, Florida

• March 12, 2012, Jersey Green, 37, Black, Aurora, Illinois

• March 15, 2012, Alex Martin, 24, Caucasian, Pine Valley, California

• March 19, 2012, James Barnes, 38, Caucasian, Pinellas County, Florida

• April 10, 2012, Bobby Merrill, 38, Black, Saginaw, Michigan

• April 21, 2012, Angel Hiraldo, 41, Hispanic, Meriden, Connecticut

• April 22, 2012, Bruce Chrestensen, 52, Caucasian, Grass Valley, California

• May 10, 2012, Damon Abraham, 34, Black, Baldwin, Louisiana

• May 31, 2012, Randulph Rodas, 35, Hispanic, Merced, California

• June 9, 2012, Randolph Bonvillian, 41, Caucasian, Houma, Louisiana

• June 20, 2012, Macadam Mason, 39, Caucasian, Thetford, Vermont

• June 30, 2012, Victor Duffy, 25, Black, Tukwila, Washington

• July 1, 2012, Corey McGinnis, 35, Black, Cincinnati, Ohio

• July 5, 2012, Sampson Castellane, 29, Native American, Fife, Washington

• July 6, 2012, Joshua Salvato, 21, Hispanic, Ocala, Florida

• August 21, 2012, Jerry Nichols, 64, Caucasian, Bend, Oregon

• September 1, 2012, Denis Chabot, 38, Caucasian, Houston, Texas

• September 5, 2012, Christopher Ladue, 23, Race: Unknown, Medford, Oregon

• September 14, 2012, Bill Williams, 60, Caucasian, Everett, Washington

• September 17, 2012, Phillip McCue, 28, Caucasian, Bangor, Maine

• September 26, 2012, Timothy Dennis, 42, Black, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• October 4, 2012, Travis Maupin, 32, Caucasian, Paola, Kansas

• October 21, 2012, Anthony Lawson, 27, Black, Corona, California

• October 30, 2012, Derrick Birdow, 33, Black, Forest Hill, Texas

• November 29, 2012, Robert Maurina, 46, Caucasian, West Allis, Wisconsin

• December 13, 2012, Philip Coleman, 38, Black, Chicago, Illinois

• December 15, 2012, Darryll Briston, 49, Black, Washington, Pennsylvania

• December 25, 2012, Kevin Culp, 29, Black, Richmond, Washington

• January 1, 2013, Andrew Layton, 26, Caucasian, Mankato, Minnesota

• January 4, 2013, Marcus Slade, 32, Black, Marshall, Texas

• January 17, 2013, Bruce Thomson, 49, Caucasian, Logan, Utah

• February 4, 2013, Cody Towler, 34, Caucasian, Roswell, New Mexico

• February 8, 2013, Stephen MacKenzie, 54, Caucasian, Flint, Michigan

• February 16, 2013, Charles Baker, Jr., 30, Black, Jamestown, New York

• February 23, 2013, Christopher Parker, 33, Caucasian, Spokane, Washington

• March 3, 2013, Ray McKelvey, 26, Caucasian, Canyonville, Oregon

• March 21, 2013, Bobby Madewell, 51, Caucasian, Longview, Texas

• March 24, 2013, Khari Illidge, 25, Black, Phenix City, Alabama

• March 30, 2013, Lawrence Baumann, 51, Caucasian, Santa Barbara, California

• April 5, 2013, Mark Couturier, 50, Caucasian, Los Angeles, California

• April 10, 2013,Thomas Sadler, 45, Caucasian, Raleigh, North Carolina

• April 12, 2013, Rodney Evans, 42, Black, Flint, Michigan

• April 16, 2013, Carl Ballard, 29, Black, Williamsburg County, South Carolina

• April 19, 2013, Anthony Howard, 51, Black, Gaithersburg, Maryland

• April 19, 2013, Anthony Firkins, 33, Caucasian, Nampa, Idaho

• May 2, 2013, Jayson Carmickle, 28, Caucasian, Salt Lake City, Utah

• May 16, 2013, Jermaine Darden, 34, Black, Ft. Worth, Texas

• May 17, 2013, Guillermo Cedano, 44, Hispanic, Montibello, California

• June 2, 2013, Guy Guthrie, 55, Unknown, Conifer, Colorado

• June 7, 2013, Will Berger, 34, Caucasian, Spokane, Washington

• June 9, 2013, Mark Koves, 28, Caucasian, Thornton, Illinois

• June 9, 2013, Noel Mendoza, 43, Hispanic, Meriden, Connecticut

• June 22, 2013, Gregory Price, 56, Caucasian, Roseburg, Oregon

• June 29, 2013, George Harvey, 39, Black, Augusta, Georgia

• July 10, 2013, Gerald Altomare, 30, Caucasian, St. Cloud, Florida

• July 11, 2013, Antonio Johnson, 40, Black, Bridgeton, Missouri

• July 21, 2013, Deomain Hayman, 28, Black, Wilmington, Delaware

• July 22, 2013, Thomas Martinez, 40, Caucasian, Coralville, Iowa

• July 23, 2013, Jason Nalls, 40, Black, Wenatchee, Washington

• July 24, 2013, Dainell Simmons, 29, Black, Middle Island, New York

• July 26, 2013, John Wrana, 95, Caucasian, Forest Park, Illinois

• July 29, 2013, Zheng Diao, 76, Asian, St. Louis Park, Minnesota

• August 6, 2013, Israel Hernandez, 18, Hispanic, Miami, Florida

• August 21, 2013, Michael Ruiz, 44, Hispanic, Phoenix, Arizona

• September 2, 2013, Norman Oosterbroek, 43, Caucasian, Miami, Florida

• September 3, 2013, Gary Beto, 52, Caucasian, East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• September 14, 2013, Jonathan Ferrell, 24, Black, Charlotte, North Carolina

• September 22, 2013, Michael Zubrod, 39, Caucasian, Northwood, Iowa

• October 11, 2013, Raymond Johnson, 41, Black, Moreno Valley, California

• October 13, 2013, Brad Evans, 32, Caucasian, Starr, South Carolina

• October 13, 2013, Fernando Gomez, 36, Hispanic, El Paso, Texas

• February 4, 2014, Randall Hatori, 39, Asian Pacific Islander, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

• February 5, 2014, Willie Sams, 21, Black, Liberty City, Florida

• February 27, 2014, Treon 'Tree' Johnson, 27, Unknown, Hialeah, Florida

• February 27, 2014, Maykel Barrera, 37, Hispanic, Miami, Florida

• April 11, 2014, Gregory Towns, 24, Black, East Point, Georgia

• April 13, 2014, Edward Caruth, 38, Caucasian, Phoenix, Arizona

• April 13, 2014, Jose Maldonado, 22, Hispanic, East Hartford, Connecticut

• May 11, 2014, Ron Hillstrom, 44, Caucasian, University Place, Washington

• May 14, 2014, George King, 18, Black, Baltimore, Maryland

• May 24, 2014, Carlos Ocana, 54, Hispanic, Los Angeles, California

• June 7, 2014, Daniel Best, 34, Caucasian, Gilbert, Arizona

• June 21, 2014, Dominic Graffeo, 56, Caucasian, Chelsea, Massachusetts

• July 7, 2014, Ennis Labaux, 37, Black, LaPlace, Louisiana

• July 12, 2014, Ronald Hewett, 50, Caucasian, Wilmington, North Carolina

• July 19, 2014, Francisco Rocha, 41, Hispanic, Chicago, Illinois

• August 8, 2014, Jose Paulino, 38, Hispanic, Tamaqua, Pennsylvania

• August 12, 2014, Dante Parker, 36, Black, Victorville, California

• August 20, 2014, Arvel Williams, 30, Black, Perry Hall, Maryland

• August 24, 2014, Timothy Griffis, 35, Caucasian, Lake City, Florida

• August 25, 2014, Timothy Rice, 33, Caucasian, Austin, Texas

• August 29, 2014, Michael O'Connell, 44, Caucasian, Littlefield, Arizona

• September 13, 2014, Ricky Hinkle, 47, Black, Birmingham, Alabama

• September 21, 2014, Daniel Satre, 43, Caucasian, Ballston Spa, New York

• October 4, 2014, Lashano Gilbert, 31, Black, New London, Connecticut

• October 6, 2014, Balantine Mbegbu, 60, Black, Phoenix, Arizona

• October 13, 2014, Macario Garcia, 54, Hispanic, Pleasanton, Texas
You can see that we don't know the race or national origin (RNO) for Christopher Davis, Michael Evans, Jerome Gill, Guy Gutherie, James Healy Jr., Treon 'Tree' Johnson, Christopher Ladue, T.J. Nance, Stephen Palmer, Earnest Ridlehuber, Jermaine Lynnard Sanford or Johnnie Warren. We can use some research assistance from villagers to help us identify the RNO for these folks who died after being electrocuted by police taser guns.

We track the RNO information because we sense that these taser-related deaths are happening at a disproportionate level to people of color.

For example, we see that at least 118 (117 men and a 62-year old woman) of these taser-torture killings occurred against African Americans. Black people are only 13.6% of the total population, yet 42% of the 2009-2014 taser-related deaths in America are Black people.

At last count, there are more than 514,000 Tasers among law enforcers and the military nationwide. Tasers are now deployed in law enforcement agencies in 29 of the 33 largest U.S. cities. Some states, such as New Jersey, are loosening up their rules for taser use. Other states, like Delaware, seek to justify taser use in spite of rising death toll.

However, the tide may be turning. As taser-related deaths and injuries have continued to rise (as well as the amount of Taser litigation), many departments are starting to abandon the weapon in favor of other means of suspect control. Currently, Memphis and San Francisco have opted to ban the use of tasers by law enforcement. Charlotte (NC) pulled all the tasers off the street. Nevada revised their taser policy so that it would be more aligned to proposal from the ACLU.

South Carolina is beginning to question its use of tasers. Additionally, a federal court has ruled that the pain inflicted by the taser gun constitutes excessive force by law enforcement. The courts don't want police to electrocute people with their tasers unless they pose an immediate threat.


Perhaps the idea of an electric rifle made sense when it was first invented. "Taser" refers to an electrical weapon trademarked by the Scottsdale, Arizona-based company known as Taser International. The word Taser stands for "Tom A. Swift Electrical Rifle."

The Taser was developed by Jack Cover, a contract scientist on NASA's Apollo moon program in the 1960s. Inspired by his favorite childhood book series - Victor Appleton's Tom Swift - Cover drew up plans for a non-lethal weapon like the one the series' main character used.

In 1993, Rick and Tim Smith, who launched Taser International, worked with Cover to improve his design and introduced the device the next year. Since then, use of the word Taser has became part of the common American language.

However, we now see too much taser abuse. First available to law enforcement in February 1998, now used by more than 14,200 law enforcement agencies in more than 40 countries. More than 406,000 taser guns have been sold since the product hit the market. It may be time for congressional hearings.

Some tell us that tasers are making America safer. Police kill about 600 people per year in shootings. So what?! Should we be we be happy that they are ONLY killing people once-a-week with taser guns?

How Do Tasers Work? When a Taser’s trigger is pulled, two wires shoot out of the device at the suspect from up to 35 feet away. At the ends of the wires are probes that either embed in a person's skin or cling to clothing.

• When the probes hit, an electrical pulse is delivered for five seconds, causing involuntary muscular contractions in the subject.

• At the end of the first pulse, police tell the person to roll onto their abdomen, so they can be handcuffed. If they do not comply, they may be shocked again.

• Once a person is arrested, police remove the barbs and call EMTs to the scene.

• The person is taken to the hospital to be checked out. If the barbs remain in the person after police try to remove them, they are removed at the hospital.

• The Taser is equipped with a chip that records information on each use, which can be used in court if someone alleges they were shocked multiple times.
Personally, I think that the 'Use of Force Continuum' needs to show tasers as 'near-lethal' ... definitely an error to claim that they are 'non-lethal'.

Many of us think that that immediate problem with Taser use is the lack of state and federal training standards for Taser certification. There are too many police officers with a taser on their hip and insufficient training on how ... or when ... to use it. Without set training standards (which includes a block on the liabilities of the weapons use in the event of bodily injury or death), officers are not fully aware of the ramifications of Taser use.