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ALEX LEARYA violent incident, in which a man struggled with officers, underscores the need for Tasers, the chief said.
PORT RICHEY - Police Chief Bill Sager was thinking about Tasers long before Monday, but he says a violent incident outside a Grand Boulevard restaurant is his best argument for equipping officers with the electric stun guns.
Witnesses told authorities John A. Siano asked a woman in Alex's restaurant for sex Monday afternoon and when she refused, he got angry and broke a chair. He solicited another woman outside then tried to run her over with his Buick when she said no, according to a police report.
Officer Patrick Alu responded and Siano, 47, threatened to take his gun and kill him, the report said. He then lunged at Alu. Other officers arrived, and Siano put up a fight with them too, but was subdued.
It could have been worse, Sager said Wednesday. "That's a case where a Taser could have come in handy," he added. "It's just another level short of deadly force that would allow officers to control people."
The chief is putting together a proposal for the City Council that requests Tasers for each officer in the department. There are 10 officers now, including Sager; the council plans to add two more.
In Pasco County, Port Richey would join the Sheriff's Office and police departments in New Port Richey and Dade City in using the stun guns.
Tasers shoot bulletlike darts up to 21 feet and deliver 50,000 volts of electricity in short bursts that disable a suspect, even aggressive animals. Tasers, made by an Arizona company, are the only brand of electric stun gun on the market. Two models sell for $400 and $800.
Law enforcement agencies say stun guns protect suspects from getting hurt, cut down on lawsuits from fatal shootings, and offset worker's compensation claims from injured officers.
"It's an excellent tool," said officer Robert Close of the New Port Richey Police Department, which has used Tasers for the past year. "It just eases the officer's mind. He is more confident about taking control of the situation if need be."
Close, who trains officers in how to use Tasers, said statistics on their use were not immediately available Wednesday. Pasco sheriff's deputies have used their new gadgets on more than two dozen people since the beginning of the year, mostly with success, officials say. In two cases, deputies were counseled after using them on people who should have been otherwise controlled. But for the most part, deputies have adapted well to their new weapons, officials say. In one case, the mother of a schizophrenic man praised deputies after they used Tasers to subdue her violent son.
Nationwide, more than 100,000 police officers in 5,400 law enforcement agencies use the devices, according to Taser International of Scottsdale, Ariz. But as their use has grown, so has controversy. Last month, the New York Times had a front-page story about their safety. Since 2001, about 50 people have died after being shocked, the newspaper reported.
Taser International countered that its guns are safe, even for people with heart conditions or pacemakers, and that the deaths can be attributed to drug overdoses or other reasons. "Tasers are saving lives; they aren't taking lives at all," spokesman Steve Tuttle told the Pasco Times.
Sager said a strict policy would be in place to ensure that Tasers are used properly and do not become a crutch. "I realize it could become a very easy grab," he said. "The whole idea is to prevent injuries to the person and the officers. You don't want to turn a good thing into bad."
Staff writer Steve Thompson contributed to this report.