While many agencies throughout Illinois bought and deployed electromuscular
disruption devices, there were no statewide standards for the use
of such devices. Customarily, the company selling the device would require
training, but such training was not reviewed, approved or certified by a state
governmental agency, such as the state POST (Police Officer’s Training and
Standards’ Board). One small police agency in Illinois deployed an electromuscular
device (three times) on a teenager who had a history of mental
illness. The teen died following the incident. The electro-muscular disruption
device was later found not to be the cause of death. Nevertheless, there was
public outcry charging the police with using inappropriate tactics. As a
result, the Illinois State Senate passed a resolution directing the Illinois Law
Enforcement Training and Standards Board to conduct a study of the use of
electro-muscular devices by Illinois law enforcement agencies and officers,
and to recommend Model Policies, Guidelines, and Training for Illinois law
enforcement agencies and officers employing such devices. (The complete
study can be viewed at www.ptb.state.il.us.)
This edition of the Forum focuses on less lethal use of force by police and related
issues of consideration, including policy development, training, deployment, and
review/evaluation. Public policy events and decisions, such as the one illustrated
above, will become commonplace as new technology and alternative tactics for
employing less lethal use of force develop.
Thomas J. Jurkanin, PhD
Senior Editor
Director, Illinois Law Enforcement Training Stardards Board |