Stun-gun study by Ohio police targets improvements

CINCINNATI (AP) — Attorneys who criticized the use of stun guns after the deaths of at least five Ohio suspects since 2009 said today that they’re encouraged by a new report by police agencies that aims to improve standards, but that there’s still more work to be done.

The report, which has not been released publicly and was obtained by The Associated Press, was written by officials from nine police agencies belonging to the Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police and comes after criticism by attorneys after at least five suspect deaths in as many years in southwestern Ohio.

The agencies in the report all use the Taser brand of stun guns.

Steve Tuttle, a spokesman for Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Taser International, did not immediately respond to a request for comment today.

Company officials have said the devices — now used by more than 17,000 police agencies in 100 countries — are far safer than guns and regularly protect officers from harm.