50 People Die Annually After 'Safe' Taser Shocks

Still image from a police bodycam showing the arrest of Keenan Anderson. The teacher died hours later at the age of 31,

Keenan Anderson is the first person this year to die following a jolt from a “less-lethal” device—but he won’t be the last. If trends continue, there will be dozens more Keenan Andersons this year. A 2019 article by Reuters documented 1,081 deaths associated with Tasers and other conducted electrical weapons (CEW), which only became widely used in the early 2000s. That translates to roughly 50 deaths each year.

Despite this steadily growing body count, the company’s manufacturer Axon insists the devices are safe if used properly. However, medical researchers have warned for over a decade that Axon is understating the risk posed by these devices.

Forensic engineers measured the shocks produced by Tasers, concluding that the devices were 39 times more powerful than the manufacturer claimed. Studies show Tasers can induce irregular heart rhythm. In one experiment, medical researchers used Tasers on laboratory pigs, and two out of six died.

While Axon disputes research findings that its devices cause heart failure under normal circumstances, the company now recommends aiming below center mass to avoid “controversy” (and liability). But these directives are rarely followed in practice. Similarly, an independent research group called the Police Executive Research Forum recommends limiting total Taser exposure to 15 seconds to reduce risk.

Keenan Anderson was shocked for more than twice as long while being restrained. Michael F. Mears died after LAPD shocked him six times, including once for 32 seconds straight in 2014. A federal jury held the department liable for his death and awarded his family $5.5 million.

Michael Mears died after LAPD used a Taser on him in 2014.

The problem with the contention that Tasers are safe “if used properly” is that they seldom are. Moreover, the situations in which police most often use Tasers also tend to have the most significant risk of death. People are most likely to die from Tasers when they are on drugs, mentally ill, or physically restrained.

In other words, Tasers are safe except when used how cops tend to use them or in situations where cops often use them.