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Tampa police Chief Steve Hogue has taken another step to better protect his officers and the public. Hogue announced his officers would begin carrying Taser guns, a weapon that gives cops an alternative to using deadly force. Tasers shoot a jolt of electricity instead of a bullet. With them, officers have a way to control a person without having to fire a gun. This is a more humane way to deal with some situations, and it could lessen the chance that some confrontations - particularly those with the mentally ill - will end in bloodshed.
Hogue deserves credit for addressing this problem so soon after taking office. In recent years, six people with histories of mental problems have been killed or injured by Tampa police. In the past decade, seven people have died in such confrontations throughout the Tampa Bay area. Many of these standoffs involved a person who quit taking medication. Verbal exchanges have quickly spiralled out of control. Unlike some emergency calls, where officers have some idea what to expect, encountering people who lack a full capacity to reason can lead to unforeseen violence. Having the tools and training to lower those risks is smart and responsible policing.
The city will spend a half-million dollars to buy the Tasers. The Police Department and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office are already training their officers and deputies on ways to better handle mentally ill people. This comprehensive approach will make it easier for street officers to spot a problem and defuse a crisis before it becomes a tragedy. With the proper policies and training, Tasers have a place in the range of tools and techniques that police use in self-defense. Of course, deadly force is always available as the last resort. But by providing Tasers as an option, Hogue has given his officers more control and shown a broader commitment to public safety.