Can jailers be trusted with Tasers?

I weighed in last week about a local issue here in San Jose, CA. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is asking to arm its corrections officers and deputies with Tasers. Community groups and local civil rights groups are rightly concerned. This Sheriff’s Office has a lengthy and recent history of abuse. Before funding this new weapon, the Board of Supervisors should ensure that use of force practices have improved, that the culture in the jail has changed, and that there are rigorous safeguards in place.

The Board also ought to make clear that its oversight agency should weigh in on whether introducing Tasers is wise and safe. The agency, OCLEM, has declined to say one way or another, instead focusing on collaborating with the Sheriff’s office on a strong written policy and other measures. But OCLEM are experts and have dealt with this issue for a very long time in numerous other jurisdictions. The community deserves to hear OCLEM’s views. More importantly, perhaps, OCLEM needs to hear from the community much more than it has.