Redwood City police to get Taser upgrade

“These are dangerous weapons and they are not needed on our street,” Nancy Goodban, executive director of Fixin’ San Mateo County, said. Goodban said the councilmembers should study the use and impact of Tasers before approving the upgrades. 

Fixin’ San Mateo started after the 2018 death of Chinedu Okobi, who died from cardiac arrest after a San Mateo County sheriff’s deputy used a Taser seven times on him. Okobi’s death was the third in a short span that drew concerns over the electric-shock weapon, but the Sheriff’s Office continues to use them. 

“Against this background, I find the proposed long-term Taser purchase agreement by the Redwood City Police Department very unsettling,” Clara Jaeckel said in written public comment. 

The goal of police officers is to avoid using force, and to create “time and distance” to communicate with individuals from farther away. The weapon is considered a less-lethal alternative to a gun, used to deescalate situations, Police Chief Kristina Bell said.

The new devices will be able to be deployed from up to 45 feet away, 20 more feet than the currently used devices. When the device turns on, it also makes an audible sound and will flash a light to warn people they may be hit with the device, Redwood City police Officer Aaron Susman said. 

“Just the sound alone has allowed a dangerous situation to get resolved without having any force,” Susman said. “It’s a tool that our officers generally want because it enhances our ability to keep the public and ourselves safe wheels staying committed to deescalation.”  

Other opponents questioned the need to dedicate such a large amount of money to a weapon that is potentially lethal and could be used disproportionately against Black people and people of color. 

There has been an “overuse and abuse” of Tasers, Ron Susek said in a written public comment. Since 2000, more than 1,000 people have died after police fired Tasers at them, a 2017 study by Reuters found. 

The purchase agreement includes virtual reality training, so officers not only get experience with the device, but also develop a “subconscious proficiency” for “critical decision making while under stress,” Steve Tuttle, former vice president of communications for Axon, said. The virtual reality training would minimize the amount of live charge Taser cartridges needed to be used for training, cutting down costs.

The upgrades would replace the currently available technology which is outdated and no longer offered by the supplier, Bell said. The department has already budgeted the yearly cost for the upgrades. 

Councilmember Jeff Gee said he is not interested in “functional obsolescence,” and believes staying up to date with available technology is key. Councilmember Diane Howard said she believes it’s important for the city’s police department to have the same equipment as the Sheriff’s Office, which is finishing the implementation of the upgraded Tasers this month, Bell said.

Councilmembers approved the item, 6-1, with Sturken opposing. 

The matter is the second consent item regarding policing that has been pulled for further discussion in the last two council meetings, both times by Sturken who stated police department related items deserve a “more thorough and robust discussion.” The other item was about the reduction in members of the Police Advisory Committee.

“If we had agendized this on the regular agenda, we could have budgeted half an hour — as we have spent now — to receive public comment and have a council discussion,” Sturken said.

The City Council is slated to review the annual military equipment use report and approve the military equipment use policy at the council meeting May 19. Also on consent, Sturken noted.