Mark Tyson
Member
Cop lacked TASER, Mace training
11/10/2003
By KEITH ROYSDON
MUNCIE,IN - Ball State University's police department has a policy urging officers to take other steps before resorting to deadly force.
But the university police department has no TASERs, a stun gun that shoots a low but incapacitating level of electricity into the body of a suspect.
And Robert Duplain - the 24-year-old Ball State officer who shot and killed Michael McKinney, a 21-year-old student, while responding to the report of a burglary in progress early Saturday morning - did not carry Mace or pepper spray and could not use it.
"He would not be allowed to carry that until he was certified," Ball State Police Chief Gene Burton told The Star Press on Monday.
Asked why Duplain could carry a gun but not chemical spray, Burton replied, "They're trained to carry firearms is the distinction there."
Like many police agencies, Ball State's department has a policy outlining the use of less-than-lethal force.
But the university has not purchased Taser-style stun weapons, which are growing in acceptance by police departments.
"We have been in the process of reviewing some of the less lethal options and how we can incorporate them into the department," Burton said.
Ball State's 31 police officers get more training than many small police departments, said Scott Mellinger, executive director of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
But the Ball State officer's use of deadly force this past weekend - believed to be the first in the department's history, and still under investigation by the Muncie Police Department - means that the department is now confronted with dilemmas faced by other police agencies.
'A clear message' on deadly force
In the wake of a handful of fatal police action shootings, the Muncie Police Department adopted a multi-level "force continuum" that advises officers to use voice commands, body language - like the "snap" of a telescoping baton - hand-to-hand take-down moves and TASER stun guns before resorting to deadly force.
"I think the public sent us a clear message that they didn't want us using deadly force," said James Peters, a Muncie deputy police chief.
Despite all the precautions, Peters said, any police incident can turn deadly.
"That can happen anywhere, anytime," Peters said.
The Indiana Law Enforcement Academy - which police officers are required by law to attend - has found that a "significant" number of Hoosier police departments have "levels of force" systems.
Mellinger, a former Madison County sheriff, said levels of force are "very important" so both the suspect and the police officer know their options.
"You make sure the person who is deciding whether or not they're going to confront you is aware of the options you have available," Mellinger said. "And the officer can be certain about deciding to move to another level."
Stun guns in use locally
In the past eight years, Muncie police officers have been involved in three fatal police action shootings. Local grand juries investigated the incidents and decided against criminal charges against police officers.
In March, city officers began using stun guns.
"We have 10 stun guns in use," Peters said.
The "force continuum" or "levels of force" policies used by the Muncie and Ball State departments -as well as many others around the state and nation - are fairly similar.
As Peters explains the policy, officers are encouraged to use vocal commands and body language, including the position of an officer's hands and baton.
"We carry collapsible batons, and we can pull it out and flick it, and that's an indicator we will increase our level of force," Peters said.
Take-downs and stun guns escalate the amount of force used.
Ball State's force policy notes that it should not be considered a "ladder," and that officers need not start at the lowest level of force.
"Depending on the circumstances, the officer might have to begin at or progress rapidly to a higher level of force," according to the policy.
When will a Muncie police officer resort to his handgun?
"Of all the weaponry and training my people have, that is the absolute last weapon to go to," Peters said. "Either he feels his life is immediately threatened or a citizen's life is in danger, that there's no way out except deadly force. And that's the only use of deadly force."
Decisions made in a split second
No amount of training or equipment can guarantee an officer will never use lethal force, experts say.
"I would like to be able to say that it will, but every police action shooting is different," said Mellinger of the law enforcement academy.
"The decisions that are made are made in a split second," he added.
Mike Ellis, a neighbor who witnessed the Saturday morning incident, agreed and marveled at how quickly events played out.
"A couple of seconds at most," Ellis said.
Burton, the Ball State police chief, said he believed less-than-lethal options were "communicated to officers very well."
"I have that confidence that they have the understanding necessary to perform," Burton added.
In the meantime, university police officials are working toward providing less-than-lethal tools for their officers, Burton said.
"We have been addressing that issue," Burton said.
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Why don't they teach cops some boxing or something like that? You can't rely on technology all the time, and being proficient with your hands builds self confidence, vital in dealing with criminals.
11/10/2003
By KEITH ROYSDON
MUNCIE,IN - Ball State University's police department has a policy urging officers to take other steps before resorting to deadly force.
But the university police department has no TASERs, a stun gun that shoots a low but incapacitating level of electricity into the body of a suspect.
And Robert Duplain - the 24-year-old Ball State officer who shot and killed Michael McKinney, a 21-year-old student, while responding to the report of a burglary in progress early Saturday morning - did not carry Mace or pepper spray and could not use it.
"He would not be allowed to carry that until he was certified," Ball State Police Chief Gene Burton told The Star Press on Monday.
Asked why Duplain could carry a gun but not chemical spray, Burton replied, "They're trained to carry firearms is the distinction there."
Like many police agencies, Ball State's department has a policy outlining the use of less-than-lethal force.
But the university has not purchased Taser-style stun weapons, which are growing in acceptance by police departments.
"We have been in the process of reviewing some of the less lethal options and how we can incorporate them into the department," Burton said.
Ball State's 31 police officers get more training than many small police departments, said Scott Mellinger, executive director of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.
But the Ball State officer's use of deadly force this past weekend - believed to be the first in the department's history, and still under investigation by the Muncie Police Department - means that the department is now confronted with dilemmas faced by other police agencies.
'A clear message' on deadly force
In the wake of a handful of fatal police action shootings, the Muncie Police Department adopted a multi-level "force continuum" that advises officers to use voice commands, body language - like the "snap" of a telescoping baton - hand-to-hand take-down moves and TASER stun guns before resorting to deadly force.
"I think the public sent us a clear message that they didn't want us using deadly force," said James Peters, a Muncie deputy police chief.
Despite all the precautions, Peters said, any police incident can turn deadly.
"That can happen anywhere, anytime," Peters said.
The Indiana Law Enforcement Academy - which police officers are required by law to attend - has found that a "significant" number of Hoosier police departments have "levels of force" systems.
Mellinger, a former Madison County sheriff, said levels of force are "very important" so both the suspect and the police officer know their options.
"You make sure the person who is deciding whether or not they're going to confront you is aware of the options you have available," Mellinger said. "And the officer can be certain about deciding to move to another level."
Stun guns in use locally
In the past eight years, Muncie police officers have been involved in three fatal police action shootings. Local grand juries investigated the incidents and decided against criminal charges against police officers.
In March, city officers began using stun guns.
"We have 10 stun guns in use," Peters said.
The "force continuum" or "levels of force" policies used by the Muncie and Ball State departments -as well as many others around the state and nation - are fairly similar.
As Peters explains the policy, officers are encouraged to use vocal commands and body language, including the position of an officer's hands and baton.
"We carry collapsible batons, and we can pull it out and flick it, and that's an indicator we will increase our level of force," Peters said.
Take-downs and stun guns escalate the amount of force used.
Ball State's force policy notes that it should not be considered a "ladder," and that officers need not start at the lowest level of force.
"Depending on the circumstances, the officer might have to begin at or progress rapidly to a higher level of force," according to the policy.
When will a Muncie police officer resort to his handgun?
"Of all the weaponry and training my people have, that is the absolute last weapon to go to," Peters said. "Either he feels his life is immediately threatened or a citizen's life is in danger, that there's no way out except deadly force. And that's the only use of deadly force."
Decisions made in a split second
No amount of training or equipment can guarantee an officer will never use lethal force, experts say.
"I would like to be able to say that it will, but every police action shooting is different," said Mellinger of the law enforcement academy.
"The decisions that are made are made in a split second," he added.
Mike Ellis, a neighbor who witnessed the Saturday morning incident, agreed and marveled at how quickly events played out.
"A couple of seconds at most," Ellis said.
Burton, the Ball State police chief, said he believed less-than-lethal options were "communicated to officers very well."
"I have that confidence that they have the understanding necessary to perform," Burton added.
In the meantime, university police officials are working toward providing less-than-lethal tools for their officers, Burton said.
"We have been addressing that issue," Burton said.
==================
Why don't they teach cops some boxing or something like that? You can't rely on technology all the time, and being proficient with your hands builds self confidence, vital in dealing with criminals.