BARRE, Vermont - March 17, 2010 - Some city councilors and a handful of residents Tuesday night suggested revising a policy that governs the police department's use of Tasers, and raised questions about a local officer's decision to repeatedly use his stun gun to subdue a 58-year-old homeless woman who suffers from a mental illness.

During a lengthy discussion, councilors, who received their first official briefing on the incident that occurred last Wednesday morning in the parking lot of the Cumberland Farms on North Main Street, did not shrink from their decision to authorize the acquisition of Tasers last year. However, some told Police Chief Timothy Bombardier that the events that played out last week were not quite what they had in mind when they approved the purchase and adopted the policy outlining how officers should use the newly acquired devices.

Some councilors questioned why Cpl. Henry Duhaime chose not to call for backup before deciding to use his Taser on an arguably defiant but not outwardly aggressive woman that he repeatedly asked to leave the parking lot of the convenience store before placing her under arrest.

According to newly released documents, Sgt. Bob Miller was parked just up the road on the corner of Second Street. Miller could see Duhaime's marked SUV, but not Duhaime or Ann Osborn, the woman he was attempting to take into custody.

According to reports, Miller responded to the scene when he heard Osborn's screams after having been tased.

Councilor Paul Poirier was among those who questioned what Bombardier defended as a judgment call by Duhaime.

"If we had a police officer that was having an issue with this woman and things weren't going well… why didn't the officer ask for backup instead of using force?" Poirier asked.

Councilor Steven Mackenzie said given "the luxury of seven days of hindsight" he was inclined to agree, given the fact that by all accounts - Duhaime's included - Osborn wasn't an immediate threat.

"Nobody knows whether the outcome would have been different or not, it's just that in my mind the perception of having two officers there in front of her may have changed the outcome," he said. "It may have changed the need to use the Taser."