Study of Deaths Following Electro Muscular Disruption

Book excerpt: Police leaders have sought alternatives to lethal force and better methods to subdue individuals to limit injuries and death. In recent years, electro-muscular-disruption technology, also known as conducted energy devices (CEDs), have become the less-lethal weapon of choice for many law enforcement agencies. CED uses a high-voltage, low-power charge of electricity to induce involuntary muscle contractions that cause temporary incapacitation. However, a significant number of individuals have died after exposure to a CED. Some were normal healthy adults; others were chemically dependent or had heart disease or mental illness. This study addresses whether CEDs can contribute to or cause mortality and if so, in what ways.