RESOLUTION FOR THE MAJOR CITIES CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, THE MAJOR
COUNTY SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION, THE NATIONAL SHERIFFS’
ASSOCIATION AND THE FBI NATIONAL INSTITUTE ASSOCIATES
REGARDING THE UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICES AND
OTHER LESS LETHAL TECHNOGOLOGIES

Whereas the members of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, the National Sheriffs’
Association and the FBI National Institute Associates are deeply interested in and supportive of the on-going quest for
technologies that will contribute to officer safety and the protection of human life,
and whereas experience has shown that the application of the electronic control device technology by trained law
enforcement officers has repeatedly saved the lives of officers and negated the need for them to employ deadly force against
their assailants,
and whereas in many cases the violent offenders who assault such officers are under the influence of either alcohol, drugs,
or a combination of both which tends to impede their ability to make rational decisions,
and whereas there are many documented cases of the lives of both officers and perpetrators being saved by the timely
application of electronic control devises or other less lethal technology,
now, therefore, the members of the above-listed organizations do resolve as follows:
1. The continuing development, improvement and evaluation of less lethal technologies must be
strongly supported and funded by the federal government.
2. Objective and impartial research and study by reputable health professionals or academicians
should be conducted to determine the actual cause of death in those cases which have been attributed to the utilization of
less lethal technologies including the application of electronic control devices.
3. The utilization of the electronic control devices should be placed on the scale of force at active
resistance level. There are literally hundreds of documented cases where the utilization of electronic control devices against
violently resisting suspects has prevented injuries both to the suspects themselves as well as to officers and innocent
bystanders or victims.
4. Finally, it is important that law enforcement as a profession and as an industry, work through its
various member agencies to educate the general public on the importance and value of the electronic control devices and
other less lethal technologies through demonstrations and in public presentations as well as through the many civilian
academies and ride-along programs that are carried by the many thousands of police agencies in the United States.
The Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major County Sheriffs’ Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the FBI
National Institute Associates strongly endorse the above-listed strategies and pledge to support them whenever the
opportunity presents itself.
Signed by:

Contact person:

Major Cities Chief Association
Major County Sheriffs’ Association
National Sheriffs’ Association
FBI National Institute Associates

Chief Harold Hurtt, President - 713-308-1626
Sheriff James Karnes, President - 614-462-3360
Sheriff Aaron Kennard, President - 801-468-3900
Chief Mac Connole, Exec. Director - 801-576-6525