Study: Blacks more likely to be Tasered in Houston than whites, Hispanics

02:29 AM CDT on Tuesday, 09/09/08

By Lee McGuire / 11 News

HOUSTON—The details of a report sheds light on how Houston Police officers have been using Tasers.

Houston Mayor Bill White ordered the study after police used a Taser on Texans lineman Fred Weary last year. There are now answers to some of the questions being asked about Tasers.

“Clearly there is a difference in how officers of different races use their Tasers and clearly there is a difference in terms of who they use them on,” said Annise Parker.

Houston Controller Parker’s report found that even though African Americans make up a quarter of Houston’s population, blacks were the targets in 67 percent of all Taser incidents. Compare that to much lower numbers for Hispanics and for whites.

So - could the race of the police officer have something to do with it?

The report found black and white officers are equally likely to use a Taser if the suspect is white.

But when the officer is white and the suspect is black, the officer becomes more likely to use a Taser. It’s different when both the officer and the suspect are black. The study showed that the officer is less likely to use a Taser in those cases.

Houston Police say that we shouldn’t read too much into that fact.

“It’s not a matter of race, it’s the suspect’s or individual’s behavior that actually triggers the response,” said Charles McLelland with HPD.

There is one statistic that stands out as evidence that Tasers may be working. Fifty-three times, HPD officers chose to use Tasers rather than guns. That happened even though evidence showed that deadly force would have been justified.

“It has been a good program for them and they manage it effectively, but we have concerns,” said Parker.

The report’s authors called HPD’s Taser training “completely lacking.” Police disagree with that — saying Tasers are great for subduing subjects — something the pictures, and the report, show clearly.