An In-Depth Look at Taser Use Among Lake Minnetonka Police Officers
Top cops in local police departments say the Taser is a vital tool but not a magic bullet.
Although a recent report by 60 Minutes indicates use of Tasers by police across the country is skyrocketing, brass with the five departments ringing Lake Minnetonka say that’s not the case locally. In fact, less than two dozen people have been Tased over the last three years by officers patrolling Lake Minnetonka communities. The Mound Police Department was among the first on Lake Minnetonka to begin equipping officers with Tasers, doing so in 2002. Nearly a decade later, all officers—to include those on the reserve unit—carry Tasers. Sergeant Kenny Beck is a member of Lake Minnetonka’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and the Mound Police Department’s Taser instructor. Beck said Tasers have revolutionized law enforcement and have proven to …
