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Attorney General Gansler Announces Members of Task
Force on Electronic Weapons
Members to Issue Report Next Year
BALTIMORE, MD (November
20, 2008) – Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler today announced
the members of his Task Force on Electronic Weapons. Electronic
weapons, including “tasers”, are utilized by several
local, county, and State law enforcement agencies. The Attorney
General created the Task Force after meeting with NAACP representatives
and community members who voiced their concerns about the lack
of consistent training and policies for the use of electronic
weapons among law enforcement agencies.
“
Electronic weapons are effective law enforcement tools, however,
it is imperative that we ensure that these tools are used in
a manner that is fair, effective, and appropriate,” states
Attorney General Gansler. “I would like to thank the citizens
who have volunteered to review the use of electronic weapons
in Maryland and I look forward to receiving their recommendations.”
The Task Force was formed to review law enforcement’s current
policies on electronic weapons and their use of electronic weapons.
Specifically, Attorney General Gansler asked that the Task Force
provide recommendations for best practices on training and use
of such weapons.
The Task Force held its first meeting on November 19, 2008. The
Task Force will hold several meetings and issue a report to the
Attorney General, the Governor, and the General Assembly by the
end of 2009. Two public hearings will be held and will be announced
at a later date.
MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE ON ELECTRONIC WEAPONS
- F. Michael
Higginbotham, Professor of Law, University of Baltimore, School
of Law. Mr. Higginbotham will serve as Chair of the
Task Force.
- Byron Warnken, Associate
Professor of Law, University of Baltimore, School of Law. Mr.
Warnken will serve as Co-Chair of the
Task Force.
- Carl Snowden, Director
of Civil Rights, Maryland Office of the Attorney General.
- Julius
Bennett, citizen and parent representative.
- Cindy Boersma,
Legislative Director, ACLU of Maryland.
- Carol Crawford,
Assistant State’s Attorney, Montgomery
County State’s Attorney Office.
- Cary J.
Hansel, III, Attorney, Joseph, Greenwald & Laake.
- Vernon
Ricks, State Chair on Law Enforcement, NAACP.
- Dan
Seiler, retired police officer and Founder and Chief Investigator,
Cops, Inc.
- Carl Pelton, Lecturer,
Anne Arundel County Community College.
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