Addison Watson
Staff Writer
awatson25@murraystate.edu
The Murray Police Department wrapped up the fall Citizens Police Academy on Monday, Nov. 25, where attendees were shown the various versions of use-of-force.
The class was instructed by Maj. Chris Scott and Det. Andrew Wiggins. Topics discussed ranged from officer perception, excessive force, less-lethal weapons and deadly force.
Various Levels of Force
The instructors explained some statistics from the Murray PD for the fiscal year 2017-18.
Out of 20,639 calls for service in 2017, meaning police officers were asked to respond to a specific location, 803 of those calls resulted in an arrest. Use-of-force only occurred two times, meaning 0.24 percent of arrests required the use of force.
In 2018 there were 22,660 calls for service, and 950 of those calls resulted in an arrest. Use-of-force only occurred four times, meaning 0.4 percent of arrests required the use of force.
On a broader spectrum of the statistics provided, in 2017, 0.009 percent of all calls required the use of force, and in 2018, 0.01 percent of all calls required the use of force.
There is a ladder of organization that the department uses to justify when the appropriate level of force is used. Typically, the department responds with one level of force higher than they are being targeted with when making an arrest or responding to a call.
The department’s levels of force increases in the following order: verbal persuasion, soft empty-hand control, OC Spray (pepper spray) or Taser, physical strength, ASP baton and in worst-case scenarios officers resort to their firearms.
The statistics suggest that most people are placed into custody with little to no use of force.
According to Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn in response to the shootings in Ferguson, Missouri in 2012, there were 12,197,000 arrests in the United States and only 410 of those resulted in the use of deadly force.
“Now that is, I think, three-thousandths of a percent,” Flynn said. “So, it’s still an extraordinarily rare event.”
Det. Wiggins said the Murray PD’s data is close to national averages.
“Our numbers are very in line with the national averages when it comes to use-of-force,” Wiggins said.
Maj. Scott and Det. Wiggins said the department is able to use as minimal force as necessary at all times due to officer presence, de-escalation of situations and continually improving community relations.
Scott also mentioned that with all of the bad publicity facing law enforcement, there are always two sides to a
story.
“You have to shoot to stop the threat,” Scott said. “The media doesn’t look at that, they’re trying to sell a news story.”
He later said every set of circumstances is different and you can’t compare one to another.
Sgt. Brant Shutt, public affairs officer, also chimed in saying the department doesn’t want to shoot anyone.
“It’s definitely our last resort,” Shutt said. “Then people begin to say that cops are getting trigger-happy, and that just isn’t the case.”
The Taser
Arguably the most highly-talked about use-of-force was the deployment of the Taser. The department uses a Taser that they have had for roughly ten years. They are looking to upgrade to a newer version soon.
The Taser is a product by AXON, who also markets cameras and software for law enforcement and other professionals.
In order for the Taser to work, both probes which are attached to metal wires need to penetrate the skin to complete an electrical circuit. Initially, 50,000 volts push the electricity into the skin but the voltage drops to safe levels upon contact.
The electricity contracts the muscles to extreme immobility causing a person to be immobile and ideally unable to resist arrest. On occasion, a person who is on a narcotic may not be affected by the probes and can continue to fight through the shock. In this situation, a higher level of force will be used.
The Taser, like any other less-lethal weapon has its problems from time to time. The probes can have a hard time penetrating loose or thick clothing and can struggle to make good muscle contact when being deployed on obese subjects.
The Taser was deployed on a cardboard cutout to show how it is used. When the Taser is shot, small confetti deploys from the cartridge with serial numbers written on each piece. The number can be tracked to the cartridge where the number is compared to the bill of sale. This is a safe way to keep Tasers out of the wrong hands.
My Experience Being Tased
Upon the deployment of the Taser for demonstrative purposes, I volunteered to be Tased. After watching the demonstration, I became increasingly nervous. I opted to lay on the floor before the Taser was deployed on me. Instead of having the probes shot into my skin, alligator clamps were attached to me. One was placed on the right side of my back, and the other on my hip.
If being shot with the probes, the duration of the shock is five seconds. With the alligator clamps connected, the duration can be lowered. I opted for two seconds.
When the shock was initiated, my muscles immediately shut down and contracted causing excruciating pain to travel throughout my body. I had no mobility and couldn’t function in any way. I remember thinking that all I wanted was for the pain to stop and no other thoughts were running through my head.
Needless to say, the Taser is very effective when used properly which law enforcement can rely on.
In addition to apprehending criminals, the Taser has other uses as well. By showing the Taser, often times a subject will be persuaded to stop resisting arrest. The Taser has also been used to stop dogs from attacking officers and innocent civilians.
Graduation
As the night came to a close, Chief of Police Jeff Liles spoke to the class, thanking attendees for their attendance and their support of the department.
“I tell all of my officers that I am the face of the department,” Liles said. “[The officers] do all of the work.”
Liles ended his speech telling the attendees that they are a part of the Murray Police family now and always will be. He said if any attendees missed a class or want to participate in another Citizens Police Academy, they are welcome to in the spring.
Attendees were given a t-shirt and a graduation diploma before leaving, along with ride-along forms to fill out so that they would be able to ride with a police officer when they want to.
“You all are now a part of the family here,” Liles said. “We appreciate your support of the things we do.”
Note From the Writer
After attending the Murray Police Department Citizens Academy, the citizens of Murray should have nothing but the utmost respect for the department, the officers, and the people who help it to run efficiently. It is highly encouraged that anyone who has kept up with my series of articles to attend an upcoming class. The next class will be held in the spring, but a date has not been determined yet. Citizens interested can obtain an application from the departments website online. The amount of knowledge gained from the police department is unforgettable. On behalf of The News, thank you to the department for allowing the continuous coverage of the citizens academy.
Addison Watson is a staff writer for The Murray State News. As part of his assignment, he is attending the Citizens Police Academy at the Murray Police Department to write this series of stories. You can find all of his articles in the series at TheNews.org.