> > December 16, 2017 > > To: Robert Jonsen > > From: Aram James > > Hi Chief Jonsen, > > You will soon be the police chief in Palo Alto. I’m hopeful, once you formally take office, we can discuss the possibility of shelving Tasers in Palo Alto permanently. . > I recall you were kind enough to discuss the pros & cons of Tasers, with me, at a city council meeting in Menlo Park, close to the date that the council voted to support your request to arm all of your officers with Tasers (2012?). > > I believe that the facts, re the dangers that Tasers pose, to the safety of both crime suspects, and to the police, have substantially shifted against Taser use, since their implementation in Menlo Park, back in 2012. > > I hope you will read the letter-see pdf below-we recently sent to Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith. > I believe we have made a compelling case that Tasers are an inherently dangerous weapon- and should be universally banned. I look forward to meeting with you once you take office in January 2018. > > Sincerely, > > Aram “ The Facts Really Do Matter” James > > >> >> Here , is our ( CJA’s) latest letter to Sheriff Laurie Smith regarding the risk and costs associated with Tasers. ( see attached pdf). >> >> A similar letter was sent to each member of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District Attorney Jeff Rosen, Public Defender Molly O’Neil, County Council Counsel James William, and former Under Sheriff John Hirokawa. > > >>> >>> Dear Sheriff Smith: >>> At our meeting with you and your staff, we provided a letter and other background information regarding the dangers of Tasers. Since that time, there has been a significant amount of new information about the dangers of Tasers. Please see our updated letter attached. Specifically see the comments by former Police officer Mike Leonesio, former Boston Police Chief Ed Davis, as well as comments from retired University of Cincinnati Police officer Richard Haas, a certified Taser trainer. >>> >>> The cost of Taser litigation as it impacts cities and municipalities is covered in the Reuters series https://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/usa-taser/ and in our letter. >>> >>> In the past you have been a leading law enforcement opponent of Tasers. In light of all of the new information we are providing to you, we are requesting the following: >>> 1. Reconsider your current position on bringing Tasers into the jails. >>> 2. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to share this information and to continue our dialogue on this issue. >>> Sincerely, >>> Richard Konda >>> Executive Director >>> Asian Law Alliance >>> 991 W. Hedding St., Suite 202 >>> San Jose, CA 95126-1248 >>> (408)287-9710 >>> >>> This message may contain confidential and privileged information. If it has been sent to you in error, please reply to advise the sender of the error and then immediately delete the message. >>> > Received on Sat Dec 16 2017 - 22:26:29 PST
