Seattle Police Department
Update on Taser Usage
As of 14 November 2002

Summary. This is an update on the use of tasers in the Department since the First
Year Report was issued in May 2002; and since the last update as of mid-July. This
update reflects a review of taser use of force reports covering the period through midOctober 2002. There have now been 231 deployments since the taser Program was
implemented in December 2000. Based on cumulative data, key findings are, as
follows:
ƒ

The deployment pattern for the tasers remains virtually the same as in the previous report
with West Precinct having the largest number of taser officers, followed by the North, South,
and East precincts.

ƒ

The largest number of taser deployments continues to occur in the West and South
Precincts. In 58% of the incidents, the taser officer was among the first responders
(compared with 60% and 55% in the Year I and July update reports respectively). Taser
officers were in backup units 37% of the time (36% and 38% previously).

ƒ

Tasers were used in the dart projectile mode 55% of the time (compared with 60% and 54%
previously); in the stun mode 31% (compared with 27% & 32%); and in both modes 13%
(previously 12% & 13%).

ƒ

Tasers continue to be used in a wide variety of incidents. The most frequent types of
incidents are now drug-related or those involving violent crimes, replacing traffic incidents
and mental/suicide calls as the most frequent type of incident. This trend was apparent in
the July update report.

ƒ

Taser subjects continue to be mostly males (92%, down from 94% previously), 30 years of
age or younger (66%). Previously, the proportion of taser subjects 30 years of age or
younger was 50% and 53%, so this appears to be an increasing trend.

ƒ

The shift in the racial identity of taser subjects noted in the previous update has continued.
Now half of taser subjects are African American, followed by Caucasians at 40%. In the
Year I report, those numbers were reversed with Caucasians comprising 49% of taser
subjects, and African Americans 42%.

ƒ

Nearly two thirds (64%) of taser subjects were impaired (climbing from 60% previously),
most often by alcohol (36%), followed next by drugs (35% up from 33%), and then mental
illness (24% down from 26%).

ƒ

Twenty-two percent of taser subjects were armed (25% and 21% previously), usually with
knives. 70% of the armed taser subjects were also impaired (up from 62%), usually by
mental illness or alcohol.

ƒ

Verified taser contact was obtained in 82% of the deployments (compared with 86% and
84% previously). As found earlier, where there was verified contact, the taser delivered a
disabling or partially disabling effect 95% of the time.

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ƒ

Tasers continue to lead to safe resolutions of subject encounters. In 84% of all incidents
(previously 85-86%) and 91% of incidents where there was verified contact (previously
92%), the taser was credited with controlling the subject or bringing the situation to a
resolution.

ƒ

Injuries to subjects and officers remain low in taser deployments. Taser subjects sustained
either no injuries, or only dart or stun abrasions, in 62% of the incidents (compared with 68%
and 69% previously). Officers sustained no injuries in 85% of the deployments (compared
with 82% and 86% previously). In 12% of the incidents, officer injuries occurred before the
taser was deployed; and in 3% of the incidents officers were injured after or in the course of
the taser deployment.
(The comparable numbers previously were 13% and 5%,
respectively.) Officers who are injured in taser incidents are most likely to sustain their
injuries prior to a taser deployment (77% of injuries are prior to taser use).

Some of the data and a brief discussion of patterns that are emerging in the
Department’s taser use are presented below. The data provided in the tables are
cumulative.
Taser Incidents by Precinct. Table A below presents the types of incidents in which
tasers were used in each precinct. As reported in the last update, the West Precinct
had the most taser deployments as well as the largest number of

Type of
Incident
Auto Theft
Drug-related
Fight/disturbance
Mental/Suicide
Property Crime
Traffic-related
Violent Crime
Other
Precinct Totals

Table A
Types of Taser Incidents by Precinct
N = 231
Precincts
West
North
South
East
1
3
4
38
5
4
14
7
7
9
8
5
6
5
2
5
2
15
10
10
15
3
1
12
86
41
64

Incident
Totals
1
2
6
6
5
12
8
40

9
49
34
28
13
27
47
24
231

drug-related incidents, themselves the largest category of taser deployments. Drug
incidents were 21% of all taser incidents and 44% of the West Precinct deployments
(down from 58% in the previous update). South Precinct had the second largest
number of taser deployments, with violent crime and traffic-related incidents dominating
in that precinct. Fights/disturbances, violent crimes, and mental/suicide calls comprised
the largest number of taser incidents in North Precinct, while violent crimes were also
dominant in the East Precinct. Among the Precincts, East Precinct showed the largest
increase in taser use since the previous update (an increase of 43%), while the other

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precincts all recorded taser use increases of around 25%. Violent crimes are the type
of incident showing the greatest increase since the last update. Nearly a third (32%) of
the new deployments since the last update report in July were in situations involving
violent crimes.
Type of Taser Application. The precincts differed not only in types of taser incidents,
but also in the manner in which the taser was deployed. Table B provides this
information, displaying the types of taser applications by precinct.

Precinct
West
North
South
East
Total
Applications

Table B
Type of Taser Applications by Precinct
N = 231
Total
Type of Taser Application
Deployments
Darts
Stun
Both
Other
36
29
20
1
86
24
14
3
-41
51
8
5
-64
17
20
2
1
28
98

59

24

2

231

As indicated in Table B, tasers were more often used in the dart projectile mode than in
the stun or dual modes. However, as noted in the previous update, use of the taser
differs somewhat by precinct, with South and North Precincts showing the greater
preference for the dart mode, and West Precinct displaying an almost even use in all
three modes.
Table C displays the types of taser applications and their effects, in incidents where
contact was verified. As can be seen, use of taser in the dart mode has the greatest
chance of yielding a disabling effect. In the stun mode, the effects are split nearly
evenly, with slightly more partial rather than disabling effects.

Type of
Application
Darts
Stun
Both
Total effects

Table C
Types of Taser Applications and Their Effects
N = 189**
Type of Effect
Total
Applications
Disabling
Partial
None
64
23
2
89
30
37
4
71
13
12
4
29
107
72
10
189

** Includes only those incidents where contact was verified.

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Demographics of Taser Incidents. Taser incidents also show some patterns when
the characteristics of taser subjects are examined. Tables D, E, and F depict,
respectively, the race and gender of taser subjects, the age of taser subjects in each
type of incident, and the race of subjects by type of incident.
Table D
Distribution of Taser Subjects by Race and Gender
N = 231
Racial Group of
Total Subjects in
Gender of Taser Subjects
Taser Subjects
Racial Group
Male
Female
African American
108
7
115
Caucasian
84
9
93
Asian/Pac Islander
11
2
13
Other
10
-10
Total Subjects in
213
18
231
Gender Group
As noted in the earlier summary, the racial distribution of taser subjects has changed
over time. In the Year I report, African Americans comprised 42% of taser subjects,
compared with 50% now. Caucasians, which previously made up nearly half of taser
subjects, are now 40% of the total. Females as a proportion of total subjects have
shown a slight increase from 6% to 8%.
Table E
Age of Subjects by Type of Taser Incident
N = 231
Types of Taser Incidents
Age
Categories

< 18
18-20
21-25
26-30
31-35
36-40
41-45
46-50
51-55
> 55
Total
Incidents

Auto
theft

Drug
related

Fights

Mental/
Suicide

Property
Crime

Traffic
related

Violent
Crime

1
4
12
4
9
10
6
1
2
--

1
2
7
7
4
4
7
--2

2
-5
5
3
6
2
1
2
2

-1
4
1
3
2
-2
---

4
1
3
9
3
5
1
-1
--

1
6
11
13
6
4
3
2
1
--

3
1
2
1
2
-----9

49

34

28

13

27

47

Other

2
5
6
3
3
3
--2
-24

Age
Totals

14
20
50
43
33
34
19
6
8
4
231

Table E above illustrated the age distribution of subjects across taser incidents. As
Table E indicates, fights and disturbances and violent crime incidents are more likely to
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involve younger taser subjects. For example, 66% of taser subjects in violent crime
incidents were 30 years old or younger; while in fights and disturbances, 55% of the
taser subjects were 30 years or younger. Similarly, all of the subjects in auto theft
incidents and 71% of those in traffic-related incidents were 35 years of age or less.
Mental/suicide calls, on the other hand, ran the full age gamut; and drug-related
incidents also showed a wide age range.
Table F
Type of Taser Incident by Race of Subject
N = 231
Type of
Incident
Auto theft
Drug related
Fights
Mental/suicide

African
American

Property crime

Traffic related
Violent crime
Other
Total for racial
group

Racial Group
Asian/
Caucasian
Pac Islander

Incident
Totals

Other

5
28
15
6
6
16
24
15

4
13
15
20
7
8
19
7

-4
2
2
-2
2
1

-4
2
--1
2
1

9
49
34
28
13
27
47
24

115

93

13

10

231

Table F displays the race of subjects across taser incidents. As is evident in the table,
African Americans and Caucasians, the two largest groups of taser subjects, are
reflected about evenly in fights/disturbances, auto thefts, property crimes, and violent
crimes. Where there are apparent differences are in drug and traffic incidents, where
African Americans predominate; and in mental and suicide calls, where Caucasians are
more dominant.
Taser Subject Impairment and Use of Weapons. Officers in taser incidents confront
a large number of subjects who are both armed and impaired. This information is
depicted in Table G below.
As can be seen in Table G, nearly two thirds of taser subjects (64%) were impaired in
some way. The most likely impairments were due to alcohol (36% of those impaired) or
drugs/chemicals (35%). About a quarter of the subjects (24%) exhibited impairments
associated with mental illness. Nearly a quarter of the taser subjects (22%) were
armed, most often with knives. Of particular concern, however, is the fact that most of
the armed subjects (70%) were also impaired. The combination of an impairment and a
weapon was most often seen in incidents involving the mentally ill and those
demonstrating alcohol intoxication.

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Table G
Taser Subject Impairment and Use of Weapons
N = 231
Total
Was subject
subjects
Type of
armed?
With
Impairment
Yes
No
impairment
Alcohol
Drugs/chemicals
Both drugs and alcohol
Mental illness
None mentioned/apparent
Weapon Use Totals

12
4
2
17
15
50

41
47
6
18
69
181

53
51
8
35
84
231

Injuries in Taser Incidents. The reported injury rate in taser incidents remains low.
The following tables provide additional information on officer and subject injuries in
these incidents. Table H depicts the incidence of officer injuries by the type of taser
application used. Officers escaped injury in 85% of taser incidents, a low injury rate in
light of the number of impaired subjects they confronted. As can be seen, while overall
injuries are relatively infrequent, officers are more likely to sustain injuries in the time
before a taser is deployed than at any other time.
Table H
Timing and Incidence of Officer Injuries by Type of Taser Application
N = 231
Officer Injury
Total
Type of Taser Application
Incidence/Timing
Officer
Darts
Stun
Both
Other
Injuries

No injury
Before taser use
After taser use
During taser use

Total
applications

112
12
4
-128

60
9
2
-71

23
5
-2
30

1
1
--2

196
27
6
2
231

Table I below depicts the timing and incidence of officer injuries relative to subject
injuries. Like officers, subjects are injured infrequently in taser incidents. Nearly two
thirds (65%) of taser subjects either sustained no inuries or injuries that occurred prior
to police arrival or were self-inflicted. In another 13% of incidents, the only injury to
subjects were dart punctures or stun mode marks. Of the 77 reported subject injuries
(other than dart punctures/stun marks), twenty six (34%) occurred prior to police arrival
or were self-inflicted, and another twenty seven (35%) were sustained prior to use of the
taser. Of the twenty four injuries after taser use, most were the result of falls to the
ground upon taser activation.

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Table I
Timing and Incidence of Officer and Suspect Injuries
N = 231
Suspect injury
Incidence/timing

None

None
Darts/stun marks
only

Before taser use
After taser use
Before police arrive

Self-inflicted
Total officer
injuries

Officer injury incidence/timing
Before taser
After taser
During taser
use
use
use

Total
Suspect
Injuries

115
25

8
4

2
--

---

125
29

16
18
9
13
196

11
2
1
1
27

-2
-2
6

-2
--2

27
24
10
16
231

Also apparent in Table I is the extent to which officer injuries mirror those of suspects.
Thus officer injuries are relatively rare where subject injuries are prior to police arrival or
are self-inflicted, but are somewhat more frequent prior to taser application. These
latter injuries may occur even when suspects escape injury, as noted by the shaded
cell.
Taser success. The final table summarizes the success of the taser in resolving the
incidents in which it was deployed. In Table J, verified taser contact is displayed
together with the taser’s contribution to the resolution of incidents. As can be seen,
verified taser contact was obtained in 82% of all incidents. The taser was credited with
resolving or contributing to the resolution of 91% of the incidents in which contact was
verified and 84% of all incidents. Even where there was no verified contact, the taser
was credited with contributing to incident resolution 52% of the time.
Table J
Taser Resolution by Verified Taser Contact
N = 231
Verified
Taser
contact

Taser Credited with Incident Resolution
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
“YES”
“YES”
“NO”
“NO”

Total incidents
Number of
% of
Incidents
incidents

YES
NO

172
22

91%
52%

17
20

9%
48%

189
42

82%
18%

Total
Resolutions

194

84%

37

16%

231

100%

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