Vic: Issue police with stun guns, says union

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2004
Vic: Issue police with stun guns, says union

MELBOURNE, Feb 10 AAP - A man shot dead by Victoria Police early today may have been
successfully disabled by a stun gun instead of being killed, the police union said today.

Peter Arthur Hubbard, 48, was shot after he allegedly threw a tomahawk and a knife
at police who were called to a domestic disturbance at a house in a Ballarat suburb about
2.30am (AEDT).

Capsicum spray was used on him but proved ineffective.

Mr Hubbard was shot and died later in hospital.

Police Association Victorian secretary Senior Sergeant Paul Mullett said this was possibly
a case where stun guns may have been effective and all Victoria police should be issued
with them as soon as possible.

"Without jumping to conclusions, it may have been an option our members could have
had recourse to other than the fatal option," Sen Sgt Mullett said.

Taser stun guns are currently being trialled by the police force's elite Special Operations
Group (SOG).

Sen Sgt Mullett said the trial should be wound up as quickly as possible so that stun
guns could be widely issued to the force.

"It's been a longstanding position of the Police Association that Taser (stun) guns
should be issued to our broader membership as an option in resolving or attempting to
resolve instances where offenders have recourse to weapons," he told reporters at the
opening of a new Richmond Police Station.

Police Minister Andre Haermeyer, who was also at the new police station's opening,
said the trial with the SOG was due to run until November and he would act on any recommendation
from Victoria Police at that stage.

He said the government was being careful not to give police too many potentially confusing
avenues for action when speedy responses were needed and the individuals were in fear
of their lives.

"If you make the choice too complex it doesn't help them when they're having to make
split-second decisions in a situation where they're usually in fear of their lives," the
minister said.

Neither did the government want to overburden police with equipment.

"We also need to be cognisant of how much kit police can carry on their belts - they
already carry handguns, nightsticks, capsicum and handcuffs," Mr Haermeyer said.

After the trial had finished, there was also the question of training police in using
stun guns, he added.

AAP ra/gfr/maur/jlw

KEYWORD: SHOT UNION

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