It's a function of two factors. One is that we have expanded the use to our front-line supervisors, so that encounters in the past that might have prompted another use-of-force option, typically the baton, or perhaps even the firearm, have been replaced by the use of a taser. But it's a function of the number of officers now who have the device and the circumstances they're presented with. So the increase in use, in our opinion, is reflecting the fact that it's the encounter that's driving the choice—but we also now have more officers equipped with it. The result is that the taser is being deployed when another force option might have been chosen in the past. As the doctor indicated, that choice in the past might have been to use the firearm.
On February 27th, 2008. See this statement in context.