Mission Statement - De-Spinning the Pro-Taser Propaganda

Yeah right, 'Excited Delirium' my ass...

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The primary purpose of this blog is to provide an outlet for my observations and analysis about tasers, taser "associated" deaths, and the behaviour exhibited by the management, employees and minions of Taser International. In general, everything is linked back to external sources, often via previous posts on the same topic, so that readers can fact-check to their heart's content. This blog was started in late-2007 when Canadians were enraged by the taser death of Robert Dziekanski and four others in a short three month period. The cocky attitude exhibited by the Taser International spokespuppet, and his preposterous proposal that Mr. Dziekanski coincidentally died of "excited delirium" at the time of his taser-death, led me to choose the blog name I did and provides my motivation. I have zero financial ties to this issue.



Monday, December 21, 2009

Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC) - gone silent?

We've met the Canadian Police Research Centre (CPRC) before.

Previous posts:
7 January 2008 - Canadian Police Research Centre (another report) [LINK1]
17 August 2008 - RESTRAINT - Risk of Death in Subjects That Resist [LINK2]
26 August 2008 - DRDC pulls plug on non peer reviewed CPRC taser "study" [LINK3]
18 September 2008 - CPRC makes massive oversight [LINK4]



Well, where have they gone?

According to their Publications webpage [CPRC Publications], they've not had a single publication since 2008. I've browsed around their webpage, and it's essentially dormant. Maybe I'm missing something...

They had previously announced that they were going to gather data for one year starting on 1 January 2008 and write another report. [ibid1] Well, gathering data for one year starting at the beginning of 2008 should have been completed almost a year ago. It shouldn't take a year to write a report.

Not to mention the report that was pulled... [ibid3]

Amazing how the pro-taser 'science' dries up when it's put in the spotlight.


If they're looking for something to do, perhaps they could answer the great unanswered question about the death rate per taser deployment, comparing the M26 vice the X26. See [LINK].

An ideal opportunity for redemption.

7 comments:

Critical Mass said...

Speaking of "Taser Friendly" organizations, did you know that the Taser Foundation For Fallen Officers, headed by Taser International's former Chief Financial Officer Kathleen Hanrahan, fails 6 of 20 Standards set by the Better Business Bureau?

Check it out:

http://www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/national/police-and-firefighter/taser-foundation-for-fallen-officers-in-scottsdale-az-4535

And I believe I am right to note that the Company has not made a contribution to their own Foundation for the last 2 years.

I'm surprised the IRS continues to give them a tax-exempt status.

Ms. Hanrahan was partially to blame for the massive $35 Million SEC settlement the Company made a few years ago. So they rewarded her with a five-figure salaried position at their "charity", which seems to only sponsor gambling events, where their founders can participate in their favorite pass-times.......

Hoo-Boy!

Critical Mass said...

Are you familiar with the Scott Norberg wrongful death case and settlement? It all happened in Phoenix AZ in 1996, involved "Sheriff Joe", his jail, stun guns and a settlement for $8.25 MILLION Dollars against the County where tasers are produced:

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1999-04-15/news/murder-on-madison-the-norberg-remix/

"History": Those who ignore it are destined to repeat it!

Your mention of "six figure settlements" reminded me of at least two stun gun deaths which settled in the millions of dollars. Scott Norberg's torture and death should have been "The Stun Gun Settlement Heard 'Round The World", but sadly it wasn't. So we are repeating history.

Excited-Delirium.com said...

Thanks for the info.

The cold-blooded killing of Scott Norberg occurred in 1996 and the article appears to indicate that the killing was completed with a towel. The "stun guns" (predating the M26) were used as instruments of torture (something that decision makers should keep in mind).

Did anyone go to prison over this horrific incident? If not, why not?

Excited-Delirium.com said...

"...$35 Million SEC settlement..."

I must have missed that one. Please check facts and advise. Provide Link if possible. Thanks.

I've got the $22 Million shareholder revolt, but the SEC wandered off once Taser International change their marketing (slightly).

http://www.centerforinvestigativereporting.org/tags/taserinternational

Excited-Delirium.com said...

See also

http://securities.stanford.edu/1033/TASR04_01/

Morons had to pay out MILLIONS. Loosers.

Critical Mass said...

Sorry if I was off on the SEC settlement amount. I was dealing from memory. It may have been the amount originally set aside by the company, before the settlement was announced. Of course, the stock never recovered in price, making their shareholders another set of victims. With over 67 million shares outstanding, you can do the easy math on the losses suffered from a $5 to $10 drop in the price of each share.

There is a special division of the AAJ called the "Taser Litigation Group" ~

http://www.justice.org/cps/rde/xchg/justice/hs.xsl/1150.htm

Here is a link to the July 2008 Agenda:

http://www.shopfloor.org/wp-content/uploads/conference_program_litigation_groups.pdf

July 15, 2008 ~

4 to 5 PM ~

"Taser Litigation Group - Bring Your Files Forum and Roundtable"

I know you are methodical and take nothing on someone's mere telling. But after 6 years of watching this story unfold, a few of the details get blurred for me, and some of the supporting evidence also disappears.

But I'm glad to help.

Happy Holidays!

Excited-Delirium.com said...

Okay. Thanks for the correction. I've already provided the links to further details if anyone else reading these comments needs them. Cheers.