The models Dow approved include a digital video camera that records every time a shot is fired.
A Taser X26 stun gun is displayed at the Oakland Country Sheriff's Office in Pontiac, Mich., Dec. 12, 2006.TRENTON — The state Attorney General’s Office today unveiled two kinds of stun guns New Jersey police officers can wield under new rules that allow wider use of the less-than-lethal weapons.
They are top-of-the-line models, fashioned and tested to meet Attorney General Paula Dow’s criteria, which require the guns feature a camera that records every time a shot is fired.
"I made it a priority to provide police officers in New Jersey, for the first time, with the realistic option of using stun guns as an alternative to deadly force," Dow said.
The two guns will be some of the most expensive on the market — roughly $2,500 for a gun, accessories, warranties and training — prompting some law enforcement officials to wonder if cash-strapped police departments will be able to afford them.
The guns and new training guidelines come more than a year after Dow loosened the state’s rules on the weapons, a move hailed by statewide law enforcement leaders who consider them a vital alternative for officers in dangerous situations who might otherwise shoot — and possibly kill — a threatening suspect. New Jersey is the last state to allow stun guns.
"There’s a definite need for them, particularly on the streets out there," said Edward Brannigan, president of the state Fraternal Order of Police.
The roll out of Dow’s expanded program, originally expected earlier this year, fell behind schedule because her office struggled to find more than one gunmaker that could meet all the specifications to ensure competitive bids, said Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for Dow. He said the cameras will help ensure police use the stun guns properly.
Dow said police departments will be allowed to buy two models from Taser, the weapon’s leading manufacturer: the X26, which fires a single shot, and the newer X2, which fires two shots.
The State Police plans to buy the guns, Loriquet said, although it’s unclear how many. Some local police leaders contend cost is an issue and Dow’s rules for using the guns are too complex, saying the risk of an officer making a mistake and being sued may outweigh their benefit. "First and foremost, you have to look at protecting the officer from liability," said John Williamson, president of Camden’s Fraternal Order of Police.
Police officials in Woodbridge will take a "wait-and-see" approach, Capt. Roy Hoppock said. Irvington Police Director Joseph Santiago said allowing officers to use non-lethal weapons like stun guns can make it confusing for them to determine when it is appropriate to use their firearms.
The Attorney General’s Office says the rules strike a balance between helping police and keeping the public safe from potential abuse. They will allow police to stun anyone threatening death or serious injury, as well as handcuffed or fleeing suspects in limited situations. Any officer who completes training will be allowed to use the weapons.
Dennis Kenney, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said police departments generally allow stun guns in situations where a suspect is physically resisting arrest. He said Dow’s rules should be simplified to make it easier for officers to make split-second decisions on the street.
"Will departments laying police off spend money buying new hardware so their few remaining officers will be confused about when they’re able to use it? That’s unlikely," Kenney said.
Amnesty International said 466 people died in the past decade after being struck by police Tasers. But a new National Institute of Justice study found "no conclusive medical evidence" that shows a high risk of serious injury or death from stun guns.
By Christopher Baxter and James Queally/The Star-Ledger
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