In Miami It’s Think Before Stun

MIAMI — Miami-Dade County police face tighter guidelines in using stun guns under a revised policy released Thursday.

The policy was reviewed after police came under criticism for using the weapons on a troubled 6-year-old in a school office and a truant 12-year-old who ran from an officer.

The new policy requires officers to consider factors such as age, size and weight, as well as the suspect’s likelihood of harming themselves or others, the person’s ability to physically challenge the officer, and the seriousness of the situation.

The old policy had just one rule: a stun gun was allowed if a suspect who was in custody or facing arrest showed increasing physical resistance and made verbal threats.

The new policy “is more concise, more streamlined, more definite in its implementation,” said Det. Robert Williams, a police spokesman.

The revisions also state that officers must not use stun guns if the environment could cause injury to the suspect, such as if the person is next to a body of water or standing near stairs.

Stun gun use is also allowed if “lesser force options are ineffective,” the policy said.