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  4. May 2019
  5. The Introduction of Tasers and Police Use of Firearms: Evidence from the Chicago Police Department

The Introduction of Tasers and Police Use of Firearms: Evidence from the Chicago Police Department

  • Bocar Ba
  • Jeffrey Grogger
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 109, May 2019
(pp. 157-60)
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Abstract

Many police jurisdictions have recently expanded their Taser arsenals with a goal of reducing officer-involved shootings. We analyze substitution between Tasers and firearms by means of an event study made possible by a policy change at the Chicago Police Department. Before March 2010, only sergeants and field training officers had access to Tasers; after that date, they were made available to patrol officers. We find that the change in Taser policy led to a large increase in Taser use, but not to a decrease in the use of firearms.

Citation

Ba, Bocar, and Jeffrey Grogger. 2019. "The Introduction of Tasers and Police Use of Firearms: Evidence from the Chicago Police Department." AEA Papers and Proceedings, 109: 157-60. DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20191029

Additional Materials

JEL Classification

  • H76 State and Local Government: Other Expenditure Categories
  • J45 Public Sector Labor Markets
  • K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law