Latest news with #Tasers
Bloomberg
4 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Taser-Maker Axon Triggers a NIMBY Backlash in its Hometown
When growing corporations talk about building new headquarters, one of the biggest questions is often whether the company will pull up stakes and relocate to another city in order to snag tax breaks and other relocation incentives. That wasn't the situation with Axon Enterprises. The company manufactures the non-lethal electroshock weapons known as Tasers, as well as the body camera technology widely used by police departments and private security companies around the world. Founded and based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Axon wanted to stay in its birthplace when it announced plans to build a new headquarters there last fall. Plans for a 400,000-square foot campus include a futuristic, sci-fi inspired office building that Chief Executive Officer Rick Smith said recalled ' bringing Captain James T. Kirk's phaser to life.'
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Police chief expresses desire for advanced-tech stun guns to replace officers' firearms
The head of the Winnipeg Police Service hopes stun guns can help reduce the use of more lethal force, eventually to the point officers no longer need guns. 'Those alternate weapons, intermediate weapons, they save lives. And the technology is just advancing rapidly, where my hope is one day that we never have a shooting where someone's lost their life,' said WPS Chief Gene Bowers. 'So, if that's the use of leveraging technology, I hope one day it gets to there, that firearms aren't a needed weapon.' Bowers' comments followed the release of an annual use of force report, which notes WPS officers used Tasers 524 times last year, including 221 instances in which the devices were presented and/or used to coerce someone, 216 times stun-gun probes were deployed (for use over a longer distance) and 87 times when the weapons were used to 'push stun' (applied while pressing the device against someone.) MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Police chief Gene Bowers said Tasers offer a safer alternative to guns. The combined use is up from a five-year average of 262 times per year since 2019, and 302 total uses in 2023. Bowers said Tasers offer a safer alternative to guns. 'Any time that we're not using deadly force is a good thing,' he said. The latest Tasers can subdue a person from a further distance away, increasing their effectiveness, he noted. In 2024, police either presented a weapon or used force in 968 incidents, or 0.4 per cent of 239,903 total dispatches, up from 0.33 per cent the previous year. Serious incidents included six officer-involved shootings and four fatalities last year. While the chief highlighted benefits of stun-gun use, a local law professor cautioned against framing Tasers as a safe tool, which could lead police to use them more readily. 'There is a risk with this perception that Tasers are essentially not lethal weapons. They should be considered as less-lethal weapons, they're less likely to result in death,' said Brandon Trask, an associate professor of law at the University of Manitoba. He noted deaths in North America has been linked to Tasers, which he said are more dangerous for people who are intoxicated by drugs or have a heart condition. 'A pretty major electrical current going through their body can result in some pretty horrific outcomes,' said Trask. He expressed doubt that police could completely end their reliance on guns, since they are at risk of facing much more lethal weapons on the job. 'It's very ambitious to think that this advancement in this area of technology is going to be a huge game-changer,' he said. Meanwhile, the police chief also shed light on several other key WPS files. When asked if he personally supported calls to search the Prairie Green landfill for the remains of two Indigenous women slain by a serial killer before he became the chief of police, Bowers said he did. 'I've always been supportive of a search, an advocate of that,' he said. Bowers served as WPS deputy chief in charge of investigations when the decision was made to not search Prairie Green for the remains of Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris, which was met with intense community backlash. A search eventually did begin late last year and has since located both women's remains. Bowers also revealed that police are still pursuing a plan to track race-based data of people officers interact with and will hire an external Indigenous consultant who will work on that file. 'It would be an external consultant to help with reconciliation, to help with partnerships (with) the Indigenous community… to ensure that we're doing things that aren't offensive or causing issues with the community,' he said. In a separate update, police also noted the Manitoba Integrated Violent Offender Apprehension Unit, a joint effort of WPS and the RCMP, has now made 730 arrests. The unit aims to crack down on violent and prolific offenders. Bowers noted two federal changes he'd like to see to help reduce the number of people who commit repeated acts of violence. 'If someone's to the point where they're utilizing firearms, machetes and causing harm to citizens… consideration to the release should be really considered. If they do reoffend, there should be something in place where they should be detained in custody until they can have their hearing… that's bail reform,' said Bowers. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. The federal government should also explore imposing mandatory minimum sentences for some offences linked to using firearms and other dangerous weapons, such as machetes, he said. The police chief also supports creating a 24-hour sobering or detox unit for first responders to take people experiencing drug-related psychosis. 'I think there's a great need for somewhere where we can take people that they're safe and other people are safe… if they're in a psychosis…. It's just working through the logistics of it and getting it in place,' he said. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
CBC
13-06-2025
- CBC
Winnipeg police chief suggests stun guns save lives, could replace firearms in future
Winnipeg's police chief said stun guns used by the service's officers have saved lives and could replace the need for firearms in policing altogether in the future. In a report presented Friday to the Winnipeg Police Board about the use of force, Chief Gene Bowers said the service used conducted energy weapons 524 times in 2024. That's up from 301 instances where stun guns, such as Tasers, were used in 2023, and well over the five-year average of 262, the chief reported. Bowers said Friday the increased deployment of stun guns, which the police call "intermediate weapons," has been made possible by technological improvements that allow them to be deployed at greater distances. "They save lives," Bowers said following a Winnipeg Police Board meeting at city hall. "The technology is just advancing rapidly, where my hope is one day that we never have a shooting where someone loses their life." Bowers said he cannot get into specifics about the increasing range of conducted energy weapons. He said their increased use can be seen as a positive development, given a greater number of incidents of use of force overall. "That's not deadly force, so any time that we're not using deadly force is a good thing. So yeah, I wouldn't look at it as a negative," he said. Police shot six people in 2024, four fatally, up from three shootings in 2023, all of which were fatal, Bowers's report said. The five-year average number of police shootings was four, he reported. Overall instances of use of force — which also include use of pepper spray and batons, as well as canine bites — rose from 863 incidents in 2023 to 968 in 2024, he wrote. The five-year average was 788, according to the report. "The increase has largely been attributed to encounters with individuals exhibiting the effects of methamphetamine," Bowers wrote. "Individuals under the influence of methamphetamine often have a high tolerance to pain and are far less responsive to de-escalation techniques, including verbal and physical." Winnipeg Police Board chair Markus Chambers, the city councillor for St. Norbert-Seine River, said he is not concerned about the increased use of force by police. Chambers said 968 instances where force was used out of 240,000 calls for service is not a concerning ratio. "Looking at the numbers, I focus on the fact that 99.6 per cent of interactions with police don't involve use of force," Chambers said. He and Bowers said they continue to support the creation of a 24-hour sobering centre for people suffering from methamphetamine psychosis and alcohol intoxication. Such a centre would be secure, have medical personnel on site and require substantial government funding, said Bowers, who has advocated for a sobering centre since he was sworn in in March. At a downtown safety announcement in 2024, Premier Wab Kinew said it's unacceptable to see people suffering from meth psychosis shadow-boxing in downtown Winnipeg, for their safety and the safety of others. At a similar announcement on Friday
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Accused killer assaulted inmate during his sleep, resulting in possible loss of eye
A Fort Myers man accused of fatally shooting a North Fort Myers man as he walked to his boat faces new charges after authorities say he assaulted an inmate during his sleep, causing life-threatening injuries. Yanko Romero, 41, was in court June 11 for a pretrial detention hearing, where state prosecutors asked that he remain in custody without bond. Lee Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson OK'd Assistant State Attorney Sara Miller's request. He faces news charges of aggravated battery by a person detained in prison or a jail facility and resisting without violence for a June 10 incident at the Lee County Jail. Those are in addition to the charges related to the June 8 slaying of Alex Johnson, 25, of North Fort Myers. According to an arrest affidavit from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, during the wee hours of June 10, authorities received a call for service at the Lee County Sheriff's Office Correctional Core Facility, 2501 Ortiz Ave., in reference to an inmate battery. Judge sides with prosecutors: No bond for man accused in Fort Myers slaying; new charges in inmate beating When they arrived, sheriff's deputies made contact with correctional staff, deputies, and supervisors who advised that "felonious inmate battery resulting in great bodily injury" happened within the inmate housing between two cellmates, the report states. Authorities identified the suspect as Romero and the victim as Brandt Dernard Diaz, 39, of Lehigh Acres. Jail records show Diaz was arrested June 6 on charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle, burglary and larceny. Around 3:45 a.m. June 10, floor deputies observed Romero pacing near the inside door of his cell when authorities say he started an unprovoked attack on Diaz while he was sleeping, causing injuries that rendered the victim unconscious. Authorities said Romero used closed fists, elbows and feet to repeatedly strike the victim in the face. The report states that the floor deputy requested backup officer assistance and medical personnel to respond while attempting to issue verbal commands to Romero to cease his attack. Due to noncompliance, the report says, the floor deputy used his agency-issued spray, which yielded negative results. Romero briefly disengaged, but returned to the unconscious victim and resumed his attack, targeting his face. The floor supervisor and additional deputies from throughout the facility responded and coordinated efforts to distract Romero, "which again yielded negative results." Due to Romero again repeatedly striking Diaz's facial area, authorities deployed their agency-issued Tasers, which still did not stop Romero. Throughout the incident, authorities said, Romero intermittently jumped and raised his hands shouting for deputies to kill him and challenged them to fight. The report states that sheriff's deputies again aimed their Tasers, at one point briefly incapacitating Romero. During that time frame, sheriff's deputies entered the cell and extracted Diaz. Authorities said Romero continued to challenge sheriff's deputies, collected the Taser prongs from his garment and began stabbing and cutting his arms "in display of self-harm." The report states that Romero later became compliant with sheriff's deputies' orders. Authorities then moved him to an empty cell within the same housing area. Authorities determined Diaz's injuries were likely life-threatening. Diaz moments later regained consciousness and was taken to Lee Memorial Hospital, where he was intubated. Medical staff said Diaz may lose his right eye. Capt. Todd Olmer, spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said in an emailed statement that Romero and Diaz were housed appropriately in accordance with state standards. "These standards and policies resulted in increased monitoring for these inmates," Olmer said, adding that it "allowed deputies to respond timely and effectively to remove the suspect, and render medical assistance to the inmate victim." It was not clear by publication if the incident has led to an internal affairs investigation. The News-Press could not reach Diaz's family for comment by publication. Romero was arrested June 8 on charges of shooting into a building near downtown Fort Myers; aggravated assault; second-degree murder; and tampering with evidence related to Johnson's slaying. Maalisa Langton, a detective with Fort Myers Police, testified June 11 before Lee Circuit Judge Nicholas Thompson. She revealed additional information regarding the June 8 shooting, saying several callers from a nearby apartment complex alerted of a shooting followed by yelling. Langton said the slain fisherman, Johnson, was with his girlfriend along the Caloosahatchee River. They had just placed their boat in the water when he drove to a nearby parking lot and was shot in the head. The police detective said authorities determined Romero and Johnson did not know each other. She added that she does not believe there was a warning that a shooting was going to happen. Langton said Romero then pointed his firearm at a jogger and fled to the parking lot of the WINK News building, "pacing back and forth." The police detective said Romero refused to comply with commands and fled. They said Romero then threw his weapon into a canal as officers detained him. Langton said authorities recovered the firearm several hours later. Langton said detectives learned he was a person of interest in a 2023 slaying out of Michigan. Authorities executed a warrant for a buccal swab for the Michigan case after Thompson ordered no bond. Police learned Romero is a person of interest in an Inkster, Michigan, murder. A separate report states that when asked what happened in Michigan, an acquaintance that lives with Romero in Fort Myers said Romero's friend was stabbed and killed in Inkster, a Detroit suburb. Inkster Police found Romero on the street during a "crisis" and took him to the hospital, but Romero has no memory of what happened, the report indicates. According to the report, that slaying happened in 2023. Inkster Police Chief Tamika Jenkins said in a June 10 news release that they are working closely with Fort Myers Police detectives to obtain DNA evidence from Romero. Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@ or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Accused Fort Myers killer assaults Lee County Jail inmate in his sleep
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Appeals court rules in favor of prosecutors in case against ex-Williamson County sheriff
The Texas 3rd Court of Appeals on Friday ruled in favor of prosecutors in the tampering with evidence case against former Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody and Assistant County Attorney Jason Nassour. Chody and Nassour are accused of taking steps to ensure that a video shot by the "Live PD" television show during Javier Ambler's in-custody death in March 2019 was never seen by investigators or the public. The video was sent to the television producers, who destroyed it in June 2019. The criminal trial against Chody and Nassour was put on hold in August after Travis County District Court Judge Karen Sage ruled that the state could not present evidence about whether Chody and Nassour were involved in a decision to remove television footage from the scene of Ambler's death because the federal Private Protection Act prevented the officials from seizing the footage at the time. The federal act prohibits police from searching or seizing work product and documentary material intended for publication. The appeals court said in its opinion Friday that the federal Private Protection Act did not apply to the case. "This case, from the beginning, has never been about a search or seizure; it is about evidence already inside a patrol vehicle parked within a secure crime scene," the opinion said. The state had argued that if the federal privacy law did apply, it could not prosecute the case. Ambler was driving home in the early morning hours of March 28, 2019, when two Williamson County sheriff's deputies — who both had 'Live PD' crews in their patrol cars — started chasing him after he failed to dim his headlights. Ambler crashed his car several times before it became disabled in North Austin after a 22-minute chase that started in Williamson County and ended in Travis County. Deputies J.J. Johnson and Zach Camden used Tasers four times on the 400-pound former football player as he cried that he had a heart condition, could not breathe and was not resisting arrest, according to a body camera video from an Austin police officer at the scene. Ambler, a 40-year-old former postal worker and the father of two sons, died a few minutes later. Chody and Nassour arrived at the scene after Ambler died. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Appeals court favors state in case against former sheriff Robert Chody
