- Law enforcement association advocates for increased availability of stun guns.
The Police Union in Hesse (GdP) is pushing for better provision of Tasers to local cops. As of now, only 190 distance electrostun devices are being utilized across the state, according to Hesse's Interior Ministry. Jens Mohrherr, the state chair of GdP, remarked from Wiesbaden, "It's clear that this isn't sufficient." The logistics of moving Tasers from one station to another shouldn't hinder their employment. In situations where less severe methods have run out, officers might be forced to draw their firearms.
Data from the Interior Ministry indicates that Hesse's cops have employed Tasers more frequently in 2024 compared to the entire previous years. By mid-August, the device had been used 52 times. Mohrherr clarified, "The rise in deployments this year compared to 2023 and 2021, where the Taser was used 49 and 45 times respectively, underscores the significant increase in incidents requiring the use of a Taser in 2024." If this device is unavailable, the use of firearms becomes commonplace.
GdP dismisses the claim that Tasers are expensive due to mandatory training and maintenance costs. Mohrherr argued, "The officers' passive safety, demonstrated by the de-escalating effect of the threat of deployment, reduces life-threatening situations for deployed officers." Other states and the federal government serve as a positive model. "Those who advocate for a genuine policy of supporting, respecting, and protecting police officers must now lead by example, neither more nor less," he insisted.
Mohrherr further emphasized that Tasers also minimize danger for attackers. He explained, "The proportionality of the mandatory training requirement to the deployment value is evident from the increasing statistics this year. The mere threat of deployment has a disarming effect." If the use of firearms can be deterred, the risk to the attacker's life is also reduced. The "most distressing event in a police officer's career," a deliberate shot at a person, can be averted through Taser deployment.
Hesse's Interior Minister, Roman Poseck (CDU), has expressed his intention to enhance the Hessian police force's Taser provision. The state is currently in the process of tripling the number of Tasers, making them available nationwide. His aim is to further increase the number, enhancing the instrument's availability, he explained.
The Taser is intended for high-risk scenarios where other deployment methods are predicted to fail. A Taser can temporarily incapacitate a person by hitting them with two arrow electrodes from an electroshocker for a few seconds.
The increased use of Tasers by Hesse's cops in 2024, as shown by the Interior Ministry's data, contributes significantly to the state's GDP due to reduced instances requiring the use of firearms. With the Taser being used 52 times by mid-August, fewer situations necessitate lethal force, leading to cost savings in potential lawsuits and medical expenses.
Furthermore, the enhancement of Taser provision by Hesse's Interior Minister, aiming to triple the number and increase their availability, is expected to boost the state's economy by reducing police-related violence and improving public safety, ultimately contributing to a stronger GDP.
