Update on Montpelier Taser Committee

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( – promoted by Sue Prent)

What: Montpelier Taser Committee meeting

When: Tuesday, August 16th, at 6:30pm

Where: City Manager’s Conference Room,

             City Hall, 39 Main Street, Montpelier

             (use back entrance of building, room is down hallway on left)

Lineup: Attorney Jack McCullough of Mental Health Law Project of Vermont Legal Aid and attorney David Sleigh of the law firm that has litigated most if not all of the Taser cases brought against police departments across the state thus far.

On Tuesday, August 23rd the committee has expressed a desire to have at least one of the other police chiefs before them, either Burlington or South Burlington, since it did not work out for them to do so this week. Also on the agenda for next week is for the committee members to listen to, as I understand it, an audio tape of one of the incidents that occurred within Montpelier they have been continually informed about by Chief Facos as why Tasers are sorely needed.

The committee is now considering holding the public hearing on Thursday, September 8th, however they will be revisiting the conversation about when to do so during their meeting this evening as well.

Montpelier Taser Committee members:

Jeff Dworkin, Chair

Zachary (Zack) Hughes, Co-chair

Vicki Lane

Polly Ellerbe

Nick Marro

Marilyn Mode

The main contact for the Montpelier Taser Committee is Jeff Dworkin.

By the way, if one would desire to perform a public records request in order to obtain the e-mails between committee members as well as any e-mails either received by or sent by committee members in communications with others relating to the business of the committee, co-chair Zachary (Zack) Hughes is the person assigned to handle such requests (it might be best to consider requesting to receive the e-mail and related public records by e-mail, unless one also requires hard copies, which could end up resulting in a fee to cover the cost of printing, copying and mailing, etc.; if one is also inquiring about other documents the committee might possess and are relying upon during their work and deliberations, one should inquire and take it up with Zack).

On the Montpelier City Council agenda for its October 12th meeting is the Taser Committee Report (view bottom of page of City Manager’s weekly report of August 12th under ‘Upcoming Council Meetings’; PDF version), here.

fyi:

  • Vermont Public Records Law (PDF version)
  • Informational presentation on Montpelier Vermont and Tasers online slideshow of mine (via Google Docs; recently updated), here

For those on Facebook, check out and, if so inclined, “like” the Montpelier, Vermont and Tasers informational and community discussion page, here.

2 thoughts on “Update on Montpelier Taser Committee”

  1. Several months ago I wrote a letter to my state reps that included a paragraph on tasers.  It includes a few points I didn’t see in your PPT.  Here’s what I said:

    I feel it is time to ban tasers in the State of Vermont. Contrary to common belief, crime is not getting worse all of the time, and in fact has gone down steadily since its peak in 1992 (+/- 1 year depending on the category). Crime rates have fallen by over a third in every major category. Since the decline started before tasers came into use, there is no reason to think that tasers have much of an effect on crime rates. So there is no obvious need for them. The absence of need is important because, despite what the manufacturers claim, tasers are lethal weapons. They just happen to be lethal weapons with low and unpredictable chances of success. In addition, there is also a growing body of video evidence that tasers are being used not just to control suspects who are attempting flight or bodily harm. Instead, they are being used by officers to essentially punish people for what officers feel is insufficient deference. This can be seen most clearly when officers taser suspects already on the ground and under control. Being a police officer is a tremendously stressful job, and I don’t envy them one bit. But it should be acknowledged that it is stressful job, and that not every officer is an angel. I think having the ability to inflict pain without doing bodily harm (at least according to the manufacturer) becomes too much of a temptation for some officers who do not find other ways to vent their frustration. I realize that officers want to have the latest and greatest equipment. But without a need, and with the risk of abuse and potential fatalities, I see no reason for law enforcement officials to have tasers.

  2. now they simply serve as a means to knock someone down from a distance who has a smart mouth or nasty attitude.  Police by proxy, violence without touching.  Sorta makes you wonder why cops still get the high pay and good retirement benefits with all the automation…   The danger and injury rate has decreased significantly but no one will be so bold as to be critical.

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