The rising use of electric shock devices by law enforcement has caused concern after several deaths were partially attributed to their use.

Tasers are conductive energy devices that are becoming a more common tool used in situations that require use of force by police officers.

As the popularity of tasers increases, there is a rising concern about their safety.

Recently, a man died of a heart attack after Chicago police used a Taser stun gun to subdue him. Only a few days prior, a teenager was critically injured in a similar event, according to articles in the Chicago Tribune.

Despite recent events, Tasers still are considered useful, safe and effective tools for police by many experts.

The DeKalb Police Department will be looking into purchasing Taser stun guns to supplement other uses-of-force options for their officers, DeKalb police Lt. Jim Kayes said.

“It gives you a force option that would be an addition to what we have already, which is [our] hands, batons, pepper spray and obviously firearms,” Kayes said. “It is just another tool in the toolbox.”

With the Taser being cited as a partial cause of death in at least five cases, the speculation that the device is not without safety issues runs high.

Kayes said in many cases, the Taser cited as a partial cause of death is also in conjunction with drug usage.

“You have to consider all the factors and not just blame it on the Taser …,” he said.

University Police do not use Tasers because there is lack of sufficient evidence showing they are completely safe, University Police Lt. Matt Kiederlen said.

“Because of the things we’ve seen, because of the deaths, we are concerned and not very comfortable using it,” Kiederlen said.

Defenders of the Taser argue any significant hazard would be apparent, given the thousands of times tasers have been used by police officers.

“You have to balance it against the number of times used nationwide and the death results,” Kayes said.

Other departments around the country have found Tasers successful and safe.

“I have personally had the taser applied to me 17 times now,” Officer Chris Myers of the Seattle Police said. “If I felt there was even a remote chance that the Taser was dangerous, I wouldn’t allow myself to be hit with the Taser.”

Myers said his agency used the Taser more than 630 times.

“The most common injury is nothing more than the bruise or abrasion from the fall to the ground,” Myers said.