A lawsuit filed against the city of Moberly by the family of a man who died after police officers used a Taser gun on him has been settled.

The lawsuit filed by the family of Stanley Harlan against both the city and two of its police officers was dismissed after the family agreed to accept $2.4 million. Under the settlement, the city makes no admission of fault or liability nor does any other party in the lawsuit. The settlement does make several stipulations.

The Moberly Police Department will not be allowed to use Taser guns until it holds two town hall meetings on the use of the guns and the department has issued a revised policy on the use of Tasers. At least one automatic external defibrillator will be assigned to on-duty patrol units. Officers will be required to complete a training course on recognizing and responding to medical distress. The Taser used on Harlan will be kept in accordance to regulations regarding evidence until at least December of 2013.

The incident sparked a proposal during this year’s legislative session which never went anywhere. The proposal called for the formation of a task force to review how Tasers were being used by police in Missouri and what effects they were having. A hearing was held at the Capitol in which Hall’s mother testified.

 

Mike Lear, KWIX, contributed to this article.

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