"Taser" can be a stimulating, controversial word to a significant portion of the public. On September 13, the day immediately preceding this City Club meeting, the Eugene Police Commission plans to make public the draft report and policies produced by its Taser Committee, which has been working on the project for over six months. Two of its members will discuss the project and the committee's recommendations. ACLU will present its own thoughts.

A significant number of police and other law enforcement agencies have adopted the use of tasers, and the Eugene Polce Department is interested in doing so. But, while tasers are meant to be less lethal than handguns, there's no guarantee, and it depends on how and when they are used, by whom and a number of other factors.

This will be the city's first real chance to hear both a discussion and conclusions, undoubtedly varying, regarding tasers' potential, problems, past record, use and the policies proposed by the committee. We expect to have a Eugene police officer and, hopefully, a physician available to answer any questions specific to their areas of expertise.

Our first question will be asked by Jeffrey Salisbury, father of a boy recently killed by Eugene Police handgun fire.