Tactical and subject considerations of in-custody deaths proximal to use of conductive energy devices.
Conductive Energy Devices (CEDs) are used by many law enforcement agencies as a safer way to gain control of subjects, particularly those who are armed, physically resistive, or under the influence of illicit stimulant drugs. This study is an extensive voluntary survey of all police agencies that had a reported CED-related death. The list of deaths was obtained by cross referencing the published lists from Amnesty International and the Arizona Republic occurring between September 1999 and May 31, 2005. One hundred eighteen unique proximity deaths in subjects who had CED activations were identified. These cases involved 96 law enforcement jurisdictions in 26 different states. Each agency was surveyed, with 60 (63%) agencies responding, resulting in data from 65% (77 of 118) of the CED proximity deaths. The majority of deaths were among men (96%), white (46%), and individuals 31 to 40 years of age (38%). Among the 77 subjects, 20 (26%) were armed at some point during the incident including 4 (20%) with a firearm, 8 (40%) with a knife/cutting weapon, and 5 (25%) with a club/baton/blunt force weapon. Undesirable behaviors were also common with 58 (75%) exhibiting noncompliance, 53 (69%) with severe aggression, and 39 (51%) with mild aggression.
Vilke
Gary M
GM
Department of Emergency Medicine, San Diego Medical Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92124, USA.
Johnson
Will D
WD
Castillo
Edward M
EM
Sloane
Christian
C
Chan
Theodore C
TC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000374:Aggression; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D011329:Prisoners; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States; D054041:Weapons