The ACLU of Oregon continues to review the use of Tasers by police officers throughout the state. Stay tuned for a more in-depth report regarding our Use of Force and Taser findings and investigations in Oregon. Recommendations Regarding Police Use of Conducted Energy Devices (Tasers).
"While Tasers can serve an important role in preventing death and serious injury to both civilians and police, their continued use as tools of convenience to subdue unarmed, nonviolent subjects is an abuse of police power that must be stopped." Read the November 13, 2009 Register Guard Op-Ed, "Widespread Taser use puts public's trust in police as risk," written by our Executive Director and Southern Oregon District Manager.
October 2009 -- The Southern Oregon Chapter Board offered a panel discussion on police use of Tasers in Oregon on Sunday, October 25th. Panelist included Ashland Police Chief Terry Holderness, Executive Director of ACLU of Oregon David Fidanque, and Southern Oregon Chapter Board Chair Derek Volkart. Covered by the local ABC affiliate, watch their news story here.
Five years ago, local police in Jacksonville, at the direction of the U.S. Secret Service, violently broke up an anti-Bush picket line of about 300 peaceful demonstrators. At the same time the police allowed a group of pro-Bush demonstrators to remain in the same area undisturbed. As a result, the ACLU of Oregon filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Secret Service and local police agencies, seeking damages and an injunction against such governmental abuse in the future. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that the ACLU of Oregon lawsuit must be dismissed under the new standards of the Iqbal decision. The court ruled that because the Iqbal standards were new, we should have a chance to file a Second Amended Complaint with enough detail to meet this new standard. 
Review ACLU's 