AEA Papers and Proceedings
ISSN 2574-0768 (Print) | ISSN 2574-0776 (Online)
The Introduction of Tasers and Police Use of Firearms: Evidence from the Chicago Police Department
AEA Papers and Proceedings
vol. 109,
May 2019
(pp. 157–60)
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.20191029Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- H76 State and Local Government: Other Expenditure Categories
- J45 Public Sector Labor Markets
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law