Blind Spots in CEW Research

Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs), commonly known as TASERs (Thomas A. Swift Electronic Rifle), have been promoted as a means to reduce harm in potential use-of-force encounters between law enforcement and non-cooperative individuals. 

Despite law enforcement’s endorsement of CEWs as a less-lethal option, public skepticism persists regarding their risks. A 2019 American Public Media (APM) investigation systematically identified and presented evidence of a fatal unintended consequence: officer-involved shootings (OIS) associated with prior CEW use. In 2023, the Mapping Police Violence project tracked at least 103 people, who have died during a police-encounter with prior CEW involvement in the United States. For 26, CEW was listed as a cause of death. 

The project ‘Blind Spots in CEW Research and Application’ began as a literature review aimed at assessing current research and the application of CEWs in law enforcement. The findings reveal a range of unintended consequences. Incorporating these insights into law enforcement training and policy could mitigate conflict between police and the public, thereby reducing harm in interactions.

(The elephants represent a notable bias in CEW research: physiological safety studies are typically conducted with healthy and fit police officers/recruits, who volunteer during training)  

Primary database search

Web of Science: 52 peer-reviewed journal articles

Secondary database search

Google scholar: supplementary iteration to reach data saturation

Social observation study

Currently underway in Germany under supervision of Dr. mult. Staller, a strange accounting study on CEW in the field.

Globally, Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs), commonly known as tasers, have become recognized as an effective less-lethal force option. As their adoption by police forces worldwide increases, so too does the volume of quality research offering critical evaluations of this technology.

This research trajectory is divided into three distinct phases: Firstly, it undertakes a comprehensive review of existing literature, examining biases, conflicts of interest in CEW studies, and prevalent myths and narratives. This analysis aims to broaden police understanding of the justified use of CEWs, shedding light on the complexities surrounding their deployment.

Secondly, the research assesses the tangible benefits and drawbacks of employing CEWs as a less-lethal option. This includes evaluating field success rates, the impact on marginalized groups such as ethnic minorities, individuals with mental health issues or in crisis, and even children, as well as instances of officer-created jeopardy.

Finally, through the lens of social observation and the examination of strange accounts, this phase aims to highlight the unintended consequences of CEW use. The goal is to advocate for improved training, procedural adjustments, enhanced frontline supervision, and robust accountability mechanisms. Such reforms are essential to recalibrate the expanding justifications for CEW deployment, ensuring their responsible and effective use in law enforcement.