The Latest: Officials fear stun gun data could be distorted

HARTFORD, Conn. – The Latest on a new report showing police in Connecticut appeared more likely to use stun guns on minorities in 2015 (all times local):

11:45 a.m.

Connecticut officials say they’re concerned the public will draw hasty and inaccurate conclusions from a new report that shows police across the state appeared more likely to use their stun guns on minorities in 2015.

Central Connecticut State University researchers released their analysis Thursday on the first statewide data of police stun gun use in the U.S.

The report says when officers unholstered their stun guns, they fired them 60 per cent of the time in confrontations involving whites, 81 per cent of the time in those involving blacks and 66 per cent of the time in those involving Hispanics.

Researchers and state officials cautioned against drawing conclusions because it’s the first data to be collected. They also say most of the police stun gun incidents occurred in cities with large minority populations.

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12:25 a.m.

A new report suggests police in Connecticut are more likely to use stun guns on minorities.

Central Connecticut State University released its analysis Thursday of the first statewide data of police stun gun use in the United States.

The report says Hispanics shot with stun guns by police in 2015 were more likely to be fired upon multiple times than other racial groups.

Officers across the state fired their stun guns at 419 people last year. Nearly 300 people were injured and two died.

In stun gun incidents involving Hispanics, 27 per cent were shocked twice, compared with 18 per cent of whites and 15 per cent of blacks.

When officers pulled out their stun guns, they fired them 60 per cent of the time in confrontations involving whites, 81 per cent of the time in those involving blacks and 66 per cent of the time in those involving Hispanics.