HOUSTON – The city council voted Wednesday to set aside almost $4.5 million over the next five years for conducted energy devices, more commonly known as Tasers.
The five-year contract with GT Distributors, Inc. will allow the city to buy the devices at a discount price of $525 each. According to HPD, they typically cost $950 each.
"If it’s a way in which an officer can get control of the situation without using their gun, then I think it’s a good decision," said councilwoman Sue Lovell.
Police records show Houston officers have used the stun guns 2,570 times since they were purchased in December 2004.
"We are happy with the performance of the conducted energy devices that we have and we (will) continue to use them," Mayor Annise Parker said.
But the old Tasers are apparently fading fast.
HPD has bought 4,987 Tasers over the last six years. About 2,400 have needed repairs. Currently, 209 must be replaced because of expired warranties.
"To have that short of useful life span is something that the taxpayer should be concerned about," said Randall Kallinen, a civil rights attorney that has been an outspoken critic of the devices. "The evidence shows that Taser usage does not reduce the number of firearm shootings of civilians."
In fact, HPD records do show that the number of officer-involved shootings has remained fairly consistent since the Tasers were introduced in 2004.
Last year, the number spiked to 50 such shootings after just 28 the year before.
In a letter to council members, Chief Charles McClelland stressed that the devices were never meant to replace deadly force. Still, he said they had "saved lives and prevented injuries."
Houston Police Union President Gary Blankinship told 11 News the Tasers were saving the city about $2 million a year in workers’ compensation claims.
The new Tasers will be similar to the old ones in that they will not have tiny cameras in them. The police chief said that would have cost another $2 million.
