The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors will hold a special evening study session next Monday to learn more about the electronic control devices commonly known by the brand name Taser, including how they work, when they are utilized by law enforcement and the County’s current policy governing their use.
The Board will take no formal action at the meeting but will hear from a range of presenters representing Taser manufacturer Axon, law enforcement, the medical community and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The public will also have the opportunity to provide comment to the Board in three ways: 1) Attend the meeting and speak during public comment following the presentations; 2) submit written comments in advance to the Board at BoardFeedback@smcgov.org; or, 3) submit written statements to the Board at the meeting. The study session will also be live broadcast on the County’s Agenda Management website,https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
WHAT: Study Session on Tasers
WHEN: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2019
Chamber doors open at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: Board of Supervisors Chambers
Hall of Justice
400 County Center, Redwood City
Attendees will enter through the Hall’s main entrance. Overflow seating will be set up in the Chambers foyer and Jury Room with the meeting livestreamed.
SPEAKERS: John Beiers, San Mateo County Counsel
David Silberman, Chief Deputy County Counsel
Sheriff Carlos Bolanos
Undersheriff Mark Robbins
Detective Michael Tabak, Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT)
Dr. Richard M. Luceri, MD, FACC, FAHA, Former Assistant Professor of Cardiology, University of Miami and Axon Scientific and Medical Advisory Board
Amy Nguyen, Axon Litigation Counsel & CEW Legal Advisor
Alan Schlosser, Senior Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union
Julie Traun, Bar Association of San Francisco
Zian H. Tseng, M.D., M.A.S., UCSF
**Speakers subject to change**
BACKGROUND: At its Dec. 18, 2018, meeting, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors appointed Supervisors Carole Groom and Dave Pine to an ad hoc committee to organize and convene a public meeting about Tasers. Pine proposed the committee following three fatal law enforcement-related incidents involving Tasers in San Mateo County.
The Feb. 11, 2019 special meeting will not address those specific incidents. However, Groom and Pine organized the educational presentations representing several perspectives to help inform the Board and public about the devices. The session is also an opportunity for members of the public to offer their viewpoints.
The complete agenda and link to the meeting video (when posted) is available at:https://sanmateocounty.legistar.com/DepartmentDetail.aspx?ID=35506&GUID=FDD8703C-9349-47E5-842F-419E8979C549&Mode=MainBody