Chicago police use Tasers more frequently

Chicago police use Tasers more frequently
Photo by Jason Bain
Chicago police use Tasers more frequently
Photo by Jason Bain

Chicago police use Tasers more frequently

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The Chicago Police Department is defending its increased use of Tasers. The police department’s city-run watchdog says Taser use is up so much, it doesn’t have time to investigate each incident.

A new report from the Independent Police Review Authority shows Chicago officers used Tasers 683 times from October 2009 through September of this year. The department has more than 600 Tasers in its inventory which is more than enough for each beat vehicle and rapid response team.

In a statement, a police spokeswoman says officers have been trained in how to use Tasers and the electric shocks from Tasers act as an alternative to stronger uses of force.