Israel police authorized field use of the taser gun about three years ago, and it has been praised by personnel who find it a most useful non-lethal tool in law-enforcement. The taser delivers an electric shock that temporarily paralyzing the victim, giving police an opportunity to restrain him/her. Despite its effectiveness, police brass feels the taser’s use has become too commonplace and it has tarnished the department’s image and has therefore decided to amend operating protocol surrounding its use.

Senior police officials during recent days have been weighing the future of the taser, and Chief of Operations Nissim Mor made recommendations to the departments’ senior officers along with Police Chief Yochanan Daninu. Mor believes that commanders must review operating procedure for the taser with subordinates as well as compelling an investigation into its use, for each occurrence the non-lethal weapon is used. Such a probe will ascertain if its use was justifiable. Under the new protocol, an officer seeking to reload his taser will not be given a new electric load until he is cleared by investigators.

The new regulations are not intended to eliminate the weapon, but they do seek to restrict its use and increase accountability when used towards improving the department’s image.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)

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