A Comparative Analysis Of News Reports And Official Police Records On TASER Deployment
Abstract
Purpose This paper sets out to encompass a comparative analysis of news reports and official police records of TASER deployments from 2002 to 2005.
Design/methodology/approach The methodology involves a content analysis of all LexisNexis and New York Times articles involving police use of the TASER during the study period (n = 353). Regional (New York Times) and national (LexisNexis) news reports describing police use of the TASER are compared with police reports of all TASER deployments by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) during the same timeframe (n = 375).
Findings Descriptive statistics and logistic regression are used to compare the data sources with respect to: the circumstances in which the weapon is deployed; the characteristics of the suspects involved in the TASER incidents; and the significant predictors of continued suspect resistance and repeated use of the TASER by an officer.
Research limitations/implications The paper examines official police records on TASER deployments from one police agency.