Investigation launched over shock video, but Police Commissioner defends officers’ use of tasers

Footage of a man on crutches being tasered has renewed debate over the weapons’ use — but the police commissioner has staunchly defended his officers.

Bodycam footage taken in November 2022 has captured the moment a man on crutches being tasered by SA Police officers. Picture: ABC/Supplied

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has thrown his full support behind SAPOL officers’ use of force after video emerged of police tasering man who was on crutches.

Mr Stevens said an investigation was now underway into the incident, but defended the soaring use of Electronic Control Devices (ECDs) by uniformed officers – putting part of the blame on rising numbers of methamphetamine users in SA.

Bodycam footage taken in November 2022 shows an SA Police officer attending the home of a man in his 50s, who had a broken leg at the time of the incident, in relation to a family dispute.

In video obtained by the ABC, a man can be seen walking into the kitchen before picking up what appears to be a knife, with the officer telling him to “put the knife down” multiple times.

The officer then warns the man he “has a taser” as the man, still on crutches, yells at him to “get out of my house”.

Tensions escalate as a second officer then yells at the man once more to put the knife down, before telling the first officer to “just tase him mate”.

There is no suggestion of any drug use by the man.

SA Police bodycam vision showing a man on crutches being tasered after he grabbed a knife. Picture: ABC/Supplied

The man can be seen screaming in pain after being tasered by officers. Picture: ABC/Supplied

The officer then shoots his ECD at the man, who appeared to be attempting to leave the kitchen, while he has his back turned.

The man screams in pain as he collapses to the floor, then yelling “what did you do that for?” and claiming he “wasn’t threatening” the officer.

Mr Stevens, who had not seen the video prior to Tuesday morning, said he found the dissemination of the short clip “disappointing” – arguing any circumstance where an officer was forced to resort to use of force “wasn’t ever going to sound good”.

“It is never going to look good, because we are exerting physical force against a person who has presented as a risk or a threat to those police officers,” he told ABC Radio.

“This matter is currently being investigated so I’m not going to pass judgement on circumstances, but what I will say is police officers confront dangerous situations day in and day out.

“I expect the highest level of standards from them when it comes to the use of force and making sure that they exercise the technical options the right way, but I also expect them to go home each and every night.

“So if they need to take action against the person who is threatening them, then they have my full support to do so.”

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has defended officers’ increasing use of tasers. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Mr Stevens declined to comment directly on the footage, which is now subject to a police complaint inquiry, but backed in officers’ use of tasers in high-risk situations.

Data released to the Greens under Freedom of Information in late 2023 revealed that the use of ECDs had soared since officers were given the green light to carry the weapons on their person in 2014.

Prior to that, tasers were kept in the boot of patrol cars and could be removed only if police were confronted by an armed offender.

Police discharged tasers 17 times in 2013-14, with that figure increasing to 95 in 2021-22 and dropping to 85 in the latest financial year.

Last year, two officers were stood down and investigations were launched after a man in his 60s was tasered and pepper-sprayed at a residential care facility.

The police commissioner said a number of factors – including increased prevalence of methamphetamine in the community — had influenced increased taser use.

“Police officers on the scene of an incident are the ones who are in the best position to make a decision about how they are going to resolve that without anybody being seriously injured,” Mr Stevens said.

“Whilst it is unpleasant to be tasered, It does resolve the situation in a way that doesn’t require any further use of force.

“That’s why we issue tasers and they are properly trained in the use of those tasers, and we monitor the use quite closely.”