Many are questioning the safety of tasers after the death of 15-year-old Brett Elder of Bay City, who was killed after a police officer shot him with a taser gun.
But local police agencies, like the Ingham County Sheriff's Office, said the tool is not only effective, but safe.
"It's just safer for the officer, and the offender, both at the same time," said Gasper Mendez, Ingham County Sheriff.
Calling it a middle ground between a gun and a baton, Dewitt Police Chief Larry Jerue echoes that notion, "It's another tool in the toolbox. It's another piece of equipment that can be utilized in a less lethal fashion."
Jerue said his officers understand the responsibility that comes with using a taser. He claims they all understand that the offender's size, stature and mental state must be taken into consideration before delpoying a taser.
"In a force continuum, what the officer does is use only the force necessary," said Jerue. "Just slightly above what is being used on them in order to secure the arrest."
But some say Bay City Police could have secured the arrest of the the 5-foot-6, 140-pound teen without a taser.
However, while Jerue won't speak directly about the Bay City incident, he did say he doesn't know of anyone being killed by a taser alone.
"Depending on the psychological makeup of what the perpetrator or assialant has injested, it could have other effects. In most of the fatalities that I've heard, there is some narcotic that has been injected into the system."
Jerue said choosing to use a taser should never be taken lightly, "You have to justify that, you have to be held accountable for that."
Bay City Police are still investigating whether officers followed department policy in using the taser.
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