DRAFT REPORT OF THE CITY OF SPOKANE USE ... - Samuel Walker

Mr. Earl F. Martin
RE: REPORT TO USE OF FORCE COMMISSION
December 3, 2012
Page 15
However, Det. Lesser agreed that high stress events can cause targeting concerns and
training is necessary to address this issue. We discussed the concerns with regard to both multiple
and long-term duration deployments and the need to do training to avoid excessive force issues when
compliance with verbal commands is not achieved. Finally, the need for regular legal updates
regarding proper ECD force options in this developing area of the law and the on-going concerns
with regard to safety and warning issues was discussed. As a result, the benefits of regular
in-service updates and re-certification with ECDs seemed to be apparent to Det. Lesser. Det. Lesser
clearly understands the importance of training on these issues and agreed that regular updates on
these areas of concern would be beneficial to SPD personnel. It is recommended that training such
as this should be given greater emphasis and SPD training should include periodic blocks of training
at briefing and regular in-service training which reinforce such concepts.
The most recent training on ECDs conducted by Det. Lesser occurred on June 26, 2012 in
the Pre-FTO training for the probationary officers. According to Det. Lesser, the training was
conducted using the most recent version of TASER International information, Version 18.0. The
probationary officers received a 4-hour block of instruction and each fired 3 cartridges from the
TASER X26. Det. Lesser agreed that having officers receive 4-hours of training and firing 3
cartridges does not constitute sufficient training for an officer for an indeterminate length of time and
that regular periodic training that confirms proficiency with the device and re-familiarizes officers
with the operation of a device seems prudent. Det. Lesser also sees the opportunity to incorporate
ECD training in the Reality Based Training scenarios as a means of reaffirming the tactical, medical
and legal considerations with regard to ECD deployments.
We discussed the need to deal with maintenance of ECDs given feedback from field
personnel that indicates they have concerns that the ECDs are not being maintained and that they
have not functioned properly in the field on all occasions. Regular inspections and downloading
of the ECDS is a recommended option. The benefits include not only confirming the devices are
functioning properly, but also to sync up the internal time clocks of the devices. One option is for
firearms instructors to be trained to check the ECDs and to download the devices and synchronize
the internal clocks of the individual ECDs at firearms training sessions. If firearms instructors are
not capable or willing to take on this responsibility, the alternative is to certify additional TASER
instructors to handle this responsibility. Any M26 model ECDs that are currently in use should be
replaced with the X26 promptly. Also, full deployment of ECDs should be confirmed in as much
as this non-deadly force option has been proven to lower force levels used by officers, reduce injuries
to arrestees and to officers in the field.