Officer under investigation after Taser accidentally fires, injuring another officer
By:Jennifer Misthal, Journal Inquirer
05/10/2006
EAST WINDSOR - A police officer is under investigation and has been placed on paid administrative leave a Taser he was handling accidentally fired, injuring another officer in the face and neck on Monday, police officials said.
Chief Edward J. DeMarco Jr. said Tuesday that the incident occurred at the start of a shift on Monday afternoon. He declined to identify the two officers involved in the incident.
The injured officer was transported to Hartford Hospital, treated and released, according to DeMarco.
A Taser is a device typically used by officers to deliver a shock of electricity to immobilize a suspect.
The incident is "actively under investigation," DeMarco said.
Sgt. Michael Hannaford said today that the Police Department is conducting both an internal affairs investigation and a criminal investigation into the incident. Police were not releasing additional details about the incident.
Hannaford said it was "inappropriate to discuss the intricate details of the investigations."
Hannaford did not know how long the investigations would take. He described the officer's injuries as "significant."
The injured officer is expected to return to work on Monday while the officer who accidentally discharged the Taser was placed on paid administrative leave, according to Hannaford.
The department has a total of 26 officers, with 14 assigned to patrol. But after Monday's incident, another officer on leave would bring the department down to 10 patrolmen for a town of 10,000 people.
©Journal Inquirer 2006
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