The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 13, 2006, Page 4, Image 4
University uses federal grant to study less-lethal effects ofTasers <
The Associated Press
CHARLESTON—Two USC
researchers are working to
see if Taser stun guns cut
down on deaths and injuries
among suspects and the
police using them.
Criminology professor
Geoff Alpert and associate
criminology professor
Michael Smith hope that
at the end of their 2 1/2 -
year, $650,000 study they
will be able to help police
departments using the
devices that have been
blamed for inadvertent
deaths and become the
target of criticism for being
used improperly.
The Taser, so far, “looks
like a really good tool if
it’s not abused,” Alpert
said. “My concern is that if
officers keep making stupid
decisions and bad choices,
someone is going to come
along and take them away.”
The devices deliver a
50,000-volt shock that can
temporarily immobilize a
person.
Taser International Inc.,
insists its weapons are safe,
Amnesty International says
100 people have died after
being shocked in scuffles
with law enforcement.
Alpert and Smith will
work with Police Executive
Research Forum, a
Washington, D.C.-based
research group, on a national
survey of law enforcement
Taser use. They’ll also talk
with suspects who have been
on the receiving end of the
Taser’s immobilizing sting.
Taser International has
had the devices on the
market since 1998, selling
them as a way to avoid
using guns when dealing
with combative people
in high-risk situations.
They’re now used by 7,800
law enforcement agencies
and military installations
worldwide.
With the U.S. Justice
Department grant, the
Alpert and Smith are testing
the hypothesis that the
weapons reduce physical
confrontations with people
police want to subdue.
Law enforcement agencies
are pleased with the device.
In 2005, records show
Charleston County sheriff’s
deputies fired Tasers 64
times. While there are no
firm statistics immediately
available, the agency says
there were fewer injuries to
suspects and police.
“There is no doubt that
it has helped,” said sheriff’s
Capt. John Clark.
Still, tasers have been at
the center of investigations
and questions involving
when they should be used
in several South Carolina
incidents.
— In December, Howard
Starr, 32, died after being
shocked at least twice with
a Taser after a chase. Police
say Starr and his brother,
Willie Junior Starr, rammed
a van stolen from a day care
into a Darlington County
convenience store during a
burglary.
— In July 2005, 29-year
old Maury Cunningham
died at the Lancaster
County Detention Center
after struggling with officers
trying to retrieve a razor
from his cell. Cunningham
was shot with a Taser, then
pepper spray and again with
a Taser.
— In October 2004, a
Rock Hill police officer used
the device on a 75-year-old
woman who refused to leave
an assisted-living facility.
She broke away from a
woman officer’s grasp
twice as the officer tried to
escort her from the facility.
In November, Margaret
Kimbrell, was convicted of
trespassing and resisting^
police. ™
— In August 2004,
William Teasley, 31, died
after a struggle that ended
when he was shocked by
a Taser twice. Anderson
County Deputy Coroner
Charlie Boseman said
Teasley died from cardiac
arrhythmia because of
health problems and the
Taser shock.
New bill allows some stores
to sell alcohol on Sundays
The Associated Press
A bill that restores some
groceries’ and convenient
stores’ ability to sell beer
and wine on Sundays cleared
the House this week.
The measure applies to six
areas where voters already
have approved Sunday
alcohol sales. However,
a 2004 court ruling on
the referendums’ wording
caused the state to deny
renewing groceries’ and
convenient stores’ licenses
to sell beer and wine seven
days a week.
The six affected areas
are Georgetown County,
the cities of Greenville,
Aiken and Summerville,
Daniel Island, and parts of
North Charleston located
in Dorchester and Berkeley
counties, said Stephanie
Jones, spokeswoman for the
Department of Revenue.
The state Administrative
Law Court ruled in July
2004 referendums there
applied only to bars and
restaurants, where drinks
are consumed onsite, since
the wording didn’t specify
otherwise. The Department
of Revenue sent notices to
groceries and convenient
stores that August notifying
them their beer and wine
permits would not be
renewed.
Licenses began expiring
in November in Aiken,
where voters approved a
referendum in Novembe™|
2002. Letters denying their
permit renewal gave them
90 days to appeal.
The bill approved
Thursday by the House
allows the state to issue
and reissue Sunday alcohol
permits in the six areas
without the need for a
second vote.
“We’re saving citizens
from needing to go back
through another expensive
referendum,” said Rep.
Converse Chellis, R
Summerville, the bill’s chief^
sponsor. ^P
The Senate introduced
the bill Thursday and
referred it to a committee.
DEATH • COnTinUED PROfTI I
and a baseball player.
There was a candlelight
vigil on the Broughton
baseball field Saturday, when
Brown was remembered
for his dedication to the
Christian faith.
“There will be a memorial
service for Blayne Brown on
Wednesday (March 15) at 4
p.m. in the Rutledge Chapel
for everyone who would
like to remember Blayne,”
said Zach Baker, president
of Alpha Tau Omega. “We
will be receiving friends at
the ATO house following
the service.”
Alpha Tau Omega plans
to have a posthumous
initiation for Brown, and
his pin and membership will
be given to his parents. He
will also .be included on the
fraternity’s composite. Baker
said thait at the end of every
academic school year, the
fraternity will give away the
Blayne Brown Award for the
newly initiated brother who
shows the most outstanding
level of character.
Miller, ATO’s
philanthropy chairman, said
I
he would like to make their
philanthropy an annual
event to remember Brown.
“As far as the fraternity
goes, I plan to name our
philanthropy (a poker
tournament at the top of
Capstone on April 12 at 8
p.m.) ‘The Blayne Brown
Tournament.’”
Brown was born April 30,
1987, in Raleigh, and was the
son of Stephen and Regina
Brown. He is survived by hi^^^
parents and brother, Philip
Brown; his grandparents,
Jim and Virginia Brown of
Tullahoma, Tenn., and Bob
and Shirley Lazorik of Mt.
Olive, N.C.
’ In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made
for the memorial service
through Alpha Tau Omega
fraternity.
Brown’s funeral was
Tuesday at First Baptist
Church in Raleigh.
Arrangements were handled
by Brown-Wynne Funeral
Home. Condolences an<^^
tributes may be made at
www.brownwynne.com.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecocknews@gwm. sc. edu
-1
Nobody covers USC better.
Nobody.
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Women’s Leadership Workshop
March 15, 2005 • 5 PM
Russell House 201
This workshop will have discussion relating to successes and
struggles with regards to leadership, an assessment of leadership
style, and will also feature a community speaker from the YWCA.
777-8165 • WSS@gwm.sc.edu *
_Department of Student Life/Dtviston of Student Affairs
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March 1 3th - March 1 5th
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