Watch CBS News

NYCLU: Police Misusing Stun Guns Across New York State

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Civil Liberties Union says that police forces across the state are misusing stun guns.

The finding is based on an NYCLU study released Wednesday of 851 stun gun reports from 10 police departments, including the NYPD.

LINK: Read The Report

The study found that in 15 percent of the cases, suspects were already restrained when police shot them with a stun gun. It also concluded that more than one third of the incidents involved prolonged or multiple shocks that could cause serious harm or even death.

The NYCLU says nine of the departments studied don't have stun gun guidelines that meet safety standards set by national experts.

An NYPD spokesman noted on Wednesday that the department was singled as the exception to that concern.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.