BREAKING: This afternoon Montpelier City Manager Bill Fraser issued this press release, stating that Chief Anthony Facos has withdrawn his request for Tasers for capital city police.
I want to express my personal appreciation to the Mayor and Council, the City Manager and police chief, the Taser Study Committee, and all the concerned community members who came out to advocate for this result, and for all the work they did on this issue.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2011
William Fraser, City ManagerYesterday morning, Chief Anthony Facos asked to withdraw his request that the Montpelier Police Department carry tasers and asked that the City Council discontinue any additional hearings or discussion on the issue. I agree with his request and consulted with Mayor Hooper. She also thinks that the discussion should be discontinued.
Chief Facos and I continue to believe that tasers could be an important and appropriate tool for the safety of our police officers and citizens. The City Council has been working very hard to find a balance between concerns about the devices and concerns about officer safety. Their sincere dilemma is indicative of the division within the community about this issue. Despite our opinions about tasers, the Chief and I both feel that a positive and productive relationship between the Police Department and our citizens is far more important. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Vermont Attorney General both emphasize the importance of local support in relation to successful implementation of tasers. We wish to maintain community confidence in our fine police force.
This issue was proposed with the budget in December of 2010, nearly a full year ago. The heated debate needs to conclude. It is time for the business of city government and effective law enforcement to move forward without this distraction.
We appreciate the opportunity to bring this issue forward and the absolute diligence with which the Mayor, City Council Members, the Taser Committee and many citizens have engaged in this issue. I appreciate that Chief Facos has always, and continues to, put the interests of the community first. We look forward to continuing our work with the community to ensure that Montpelier is a safe place for our citizens and our employees.
William J. Fraser, ICMA-CM
City Manager
City of Montpelier
39 Main Street
Montpelier, Vermont 05602
and refocus the municipal and state police back to the community and away from this quasi military battering ram and pepper spray swat loving routine. Just like the devils on K street in DC, the devils at DHS are corrupting our local LEO’s with money for toys that have no real purpose in day to day police work. Keep the black gloves and combat fatigues in the trunk and get your ass out and meet the people in your community.
One needs only to watch the hundreds of NYC, Oakland, etc etc cops dealing with OWS passive protesters to realize we are closer to Kent state every day people like Ray Kelly and Bloomersberg remain in power.
Great Job taking a real issue to the end of the successful line Jack.
Jack, you know far more than I about the true relationship of Montpelier police with the city’s residents. I’m a little puzzled by the “discussion should cease” in the press release.
But my cynical side suggests that a police department that really, really wants the next cool gadget, and really, really believes in the ‘non-lethal,’ officer-safety rationales offered for Tasers, will find a way to get them.
Perhaps there will be an information search for whether any other department has obtained stun guns via a Department of Homeland Security grant, and whether that avenue (likely not subject to public input, since it is outside the budget process) could be a way for the MPD to acquire them. And if we don’t talk about it, it could all just slip under the radar until someone in the capital city gets Tased.
Next question: Do the Capitol Police carry stun guns?
NanuqFC
Under camera’s eye and electricity’s sting, we sheep bleat Bah, Bah, Bah from within our free speech pens. ~ Anonymous
It’s so embarrassing when you are killed by a none lethal weapon. If this happens can you still shoot me. I have received shots from an nurse before, but never for protesting, and never with a rubber bullet. Just like I have never had a firefighter pull my ex girl friend from me when she was engulfed in rage. This is not to say policing is anything like nursing. They are alike in which they respond to the safety of people. They each have there own tools. Police already carry guns.
According to Amnesty International, since 2001 more than 70 people have died in the US and Canada from tasers. The organization also recommends that the use of tasers is strictly limited to situations where the alternative under international standards would be deadly force. This does not include someone stating, “I’m the one that’s gonna make you use that thing.”
I would recommend providing the police with another tool. It’s called The Satori alternative to managing anger (SAMA). Satori is the japanese word for a sudden flash of understanding. Some of the basic principles of SAMA are, to take the person seriously, join follow to lead, and take action to get a beneficial reaction. Believe it or not most police (along with everyone else) are hardwired to believe the opposite of what their function is, and this is to be heros of humility. There is no shame in being gentle in what you do, firm in how you do it.
It’s not the kill but the thrill of the chase. If you can de-escalate and maybe even disarm a drunk vet that lost parts of his head, a wife, and job, with only dialog, you would be able to join the most powerful force on the planet, The Justice League of America. I think Officer Tom Swift and his wonderful vibrating de-escalater would agree.