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Community opposes tasers as commission continues rewrite of use‑of‑force policy
Summary
Dozens of speakers urged the Police Commission to reject tasers and finish use‑of‑force reforms first; advocates cited medical risks, disproportionate impact on people of color and people with mental illness and asked that tasers be considered only after data and reforms are in place.
The Commission’s Use‑of‑Force Subcommittee reported that it is continuing work on a consolidated draft of the general orders; members said two competing drafts (version 1 and version 2) remain under review and that they would circulate highlighted changes for further stakeholder input. Commissioners stressed the importance of precise definitions (for example, "imminent threat" and "minimal/necessary force") and urged that community stakeholders be given a clear opportunity to review changes before final action.
Public comment on the proposed conducted‑energy device (taser) policy was extensive and overwhelmingly opposed. Speakers included legal organizations, neighborhood groups, health professionals and families of people who died after police encounters. The Bar Association’s subcommittee summarized medical and use patterns showing the devices can be lethal in some cases and said the association’s research supports delaying any general authorization for tasers.
Jennifer Friedenbach of the Coalition on Homelessness summarized the community position: San Francisco has resisted taser adoption for years and should not add another weapon while it is still establishing de‑escalation practices, body cameras and a principled‑policing approach. "Taser use is contrary to time‑and‑distance de‑escalation training," she said, and added that evidence from other cities shows the weapon has been associated with deaths and disproportionate usage against people of color.
Public Defender Adachi told the Commission he does not support tasers and urged the panel to adopt firm standards on use‑of‑force policy language such as requiring de‑escalation, proportionality and clear accountability mechanisms. Several speakers urged the Commission to separate the taser question from the broader use‑of‑force rewrite so each topic receives full public review.
Commissioners said they would take the feedback into account as they refine the draft general orders; the subcommittee plans to post the two versions with annotated differences and to host follow‑up stakeholder sessions before any final vote. No formal vote on tasers occurred at this meeting.
