Houston police to open task force into taser usage

[struggle4progress]

ABC13 Eyewitness News

(4/05/05 - HOUSTON) — Are Houston police officers using tasers too often and on a disproportionate share of minorities?

Those are questions to be addressed by a new taser task force. The committee was proposed by HPD Chief Harold Hurtt after those questions were raised by community groups. Among those being asked to participate in the committee are LULAC and the ACLU.

Johnny Mata of LULAC said, "We're concerned with the number of minorities, the frequency it's being used and when do you use it."

"I think it's important that the community look at every case," said Yolanda Smith with the Houston NAACP. "Right now there's not a clear cut idea of whether these incidents are justified." <snip>

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/040505_local_taser.html