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San Francisco Police Commission hears experts on tasers; SFPD stresses training, oversight and DOJ‑guided review
Summary
At a June 21 Police Commission hearing, SFPD and five outside experts sparred over the risks, effectiveness, training needs and liability of conducted energy devices (CEDs/tasers). No policy vote was taken; the department and commission will continue a DOJ‑guided working‑group process and community outreach.
The San Francisco Police Commission on June 21 heard expert testimony for and against adopting conducted energy devices, often called tasers, as an intermediate force option for the San Francisco Police Department.
Chief of Police William Scott opened the expert panel by framing CEDs as a potential “less‑lethal” option that, he said, could reduce injuries if paired with strong policy, training, supervision and public oversight. Scott cited independent research he said showed a national reduction in citizen injuries associated with CED use and urged that any implementation include public input, data collection and pairing device output with body‑worn cameras.
The commission heard five outside presentations that reached different conclusions. Michael Leonisio, a retired Oakland police officer and consultant, emphasized practical obstacles: he said modern rollouts require heavy investment, estimating $8,000–$10,000 per officer for initial equipment and training, and warned of both mechanical…
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