Conductive electrical devices: a prospective, population-based study of the medical safety of law enforcement use.
BACKGROUND
To examine police compliance with policies for the proper use of conductive electrical devices (CEDs) and, in turn, track any associated medical events following CED application.


METHODS
Prospective, population-based, 15-month study of police activations of CEDs after their introduction into the police force of a large U.S. city (residential population, 1.25 million). Local policy for use was consistent with the recommendations of International Association of Chiefs of Police. Data collected included age, sex, predefined rationale for use, target distance, activation duration, total energy delivered, policy compliance, and medical findings or events within the first 12 hours.


RESULTS
Among 426 consecutive CED activations (November 1, 2004 through January 31, 2006), the suspects' mean age (years +/- standard deviation) was 30 +/- 10 (range, 13-72) years and 90.4% were male. Suspects' mean distance from the officer was 5.0 +/- 4.5 feet (range, 0-21). Reasons for use included: evading or resisting arrest (33.3%, n = 142), public intoxication or disorderly conduct (15.8%, n = 76), interrupting a felony in progress (9.3%, n = 45), and interrupting an assault on an officer or public servant (6.0%, n = 29). Mean total duration of exposures was 8.6 +/- 5.9 seconds, and total energy delivered per suspect was 227 +/- 156 joules. Officers followed policy in all cases and, accordingly, all suspects rapidly received medical evaluation or simple first aid. No suspect required further treatment except one who was later found to have severe toxic hyperthermia and who died within 2 hours of activation despite rapid on-scene intervention. In 5.4% of deployments (n = 23), CED use was deemed to have clearly prevented the use of lethal force by police.


CONCLUSIONS
Police were compliant with policy in all cases, and, in addition to avoiding the use of lethal force in a significant number of circumstances, the safety of CED use was demonstrated despite one death subsequently attributed to lethal toxic hyperthermia. Collaborative nationwide research using similar registries is strongly recommended to document compliance and ensure ongoing safety monitoring.
Division of Burns, Trauma and Critical Care, Emergency Medicine Section of EMS, Disaster Management and Homeland Security, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. alexander.eastman@utsouthwestern.edu
Alexander L
AL
Eastman
Jeffery C
JC
Metzger
Paul E
PE
Pepe
Fernando L
FL
Benitez
James
J
Decker
Kathy J
KJ
Rinnert
Craig A
CA
Field
Randall S
RS
Friese
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement / Q000379:methods; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013781:Texas; D054041:Weapons