Madison police officers are one step closer to being asked to put down their tasers.
A resolution calling for a ban on tasers was introduced to the Common Council Tuesday night.
13th district Alder Andy Heidt proposed the resolution. He wants the department to stop using and purchasing them, until a full study can be done on the effects of the stun guns.
Heidt says current studies are biased. “I want to see data that goes beyond what Taser USA and the police departments are putting together because its one in the same, Tasers Inc. pays for the training of our officers essentially selling them on the equipment that they make money on by those police departments purchasing,” he says.
The resolution was handed off to the Public Safety Committee for review.
Meanwhile, Madison police have scheduled a community forum on the issue.
It's set for next Wednesday at 5:30 in the Monona Terrace Lecture Hall. Officers say they want to establish a dialogue about taser use with the public.
