No, a police officer’s use of a Taser is not always evidence of police brutality. Instead, each case that involves a police officer using a Taser must be considered individually to determine if the police acted with excessive force.
Tasers are lawful weapons that may be used by police officers. Tasers, also referred to as stun guns, emit electricity rather than bullets. However, Tasers—like all weapons—may only be used as a means of reasonable force given the circumstances.
Tasers May Be Part of Police Brutality Cases
When determining whether a Taser was used lawfully, courts will consider what a hypothetical reasonable police officer would have done in similar circumstances. Specifically, the court might consider:
- The seriousness of the alleged crime that the officer reasonably believed was committed.
- Whether the person who was tased was reasonably thought to be a threat to himself, the police officer, or the public.
- Whether a reasonable officer would have used other, less harmful, methods to control the situation.
- Whether the police identified themselves as cops and warned the person to comply with their requests.
- Whether the police officer used the Taser in compliance with the police department’s policies and procedures.
The courts might consider other things like how many times the person was hit by the Taser and whether the person who was tased was already injured before the officer used the Taser.
Take Action If a Taser Was Used Against You With Excessive Force
Tasers can cause serious injuries or death. If you have been hurt, or if your loved one has been killed, by a Wisconsin police officer’s use of a Taser—then you deserve to know whether you have a potential police brutality case.
Our experienced police brutality lawyers are committed to helping people who have been hurt by police violence. No one should be the victim of a cop’s excessive force.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your legal rights. We will review what happened to you, and if you have been the victim of police brutality then we will fight hard to get you the fair and just recovery that you deserve.