Speech and Testimony
County Executive Leggett’s Remarks at the Independent Report on Use of Electronic Control Devices by Montgomery County Police Press Event
Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, 2nd floor, Rockville
As prepared
Thank you for coming.
For some years now, Montgomery County Police have used Electronic Control Devices – ECDs or, commonly called, Tasers – as a less lethal weapon to be available for use in those situations when persuasion and/or de-escalation methods are not effective in protecting lives and the public safety.
Earlier this year, questions were raised by some as to whether the use of ECDs by Montgomery County Police was appropriate.
These questions, of course, were not raised in a vacuum. A host of incidents throughout our nation have focused intense scrutiny on the use of force by law enforcement.
We ask our Police to do a very tough job. We never thank them enough for all they do to protect the lives and property of one million residents in Montgomery County.
We have one of the best – if not the best – police force in America.
No matter how good the training, no matter how good the intentions, however, the fact is that our Police have a grave responsibility – to make judgment calls on the last resort of use of force to enforce the law and protect public safety.
We give our Police the tools they need to do the job and expect them to do the best job possible with the least amount of force.
When questions were raised in March about the use of ECDs by Montgomery County Police, I asked for an independent review. I wanted that review to be comprehensive.
Today, you have that report. I really appreciate the time and effort that Dr. Geoffrey Alpert spent over the past four months on this review.
I have read a draft of this independent review.
The bottom line, as I see it, is this:
For Montgomery County Police, in contrast to other departments across the nation, Taser use is low.
The 59 incidents in 2015 are a six percent decrease from the year before and a 65 percent decrease from 2011.
The report indicates that the first resort for County Police involves verbal and hands-on conflict resolution techniques to address difficult situations and that an ECD, far from being a first resort, is in fact a last resort.
That doesn’t mean we can’t improve our training, our processes, our guidance for officers. There a number of excellent recommendations to do just that.
It is now my pleasure to introduce Dr. Geoffrey Alpert to take you through the review. Dr. Alpert is a professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina.
I have also asked Chief Tom Manger to respond after that.
Release ID: 16-036
August 3, 2016; 11 a.m.