JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming - May 5, 2010 - Valley law enforcement agencies this week modified their Taser policies, saying the devices can no longer be used to force compliance by people who do not pose an immediate threat.

The change comes after an April 7 incident in which a Jackson police officer attempted to arrest a man and then used the Taser to stun him when he resisted. Jackson police had stopped Frank Meek because of an alleged license plate violation for which he had already been issued a citation.

A video of Meek’s arrest showed officers ordering him out of his car. Meek got out briefly but sat back down when an officer attempted to handcuff him.

Police said refusing to get out of the car is active resistance. Under the old policy, the officer’s use of a Taser after several warnings was allowed.

Jackson Police Chief Todd Smith said Monday that use of a Taser in a case like Meek’s will no longer be allowed because Meek was not being physically aggressive toward officers.

“We’re really only using it as a defensive tool, rather than an offensive tool,” Smith said.

Smith and Teton County Sheriff Jim Whalen said this week that any time police use force they have a responsibility to review their policy.

“I don’t think Meek is the catalyst behind [the change], but his case is the most recent use of force,” Smith said.

Whalen said his office wasn’t involved in the Meek case but situations like it present an opportunity to revisit policy.

“Sometimes policy really doesn’t come into focus as well as it should until we have these kinds of things happen,” Whalen said. “What’s important is that law enforcement agencies should be willing to take a second look at how we’re doing business.”