Wichita Deaf Man Shot with Taser Gun

Printed in Olathe News in December 2007

Wichita Deaf Man Shot with Taser Gun
By Leonard Hall

Wichita police shot a hard of hearing man with a taser gun when he was leaving his bathroom wearing a towel and not wearing his hearing aid. The incident attracted national attention and blogs from the deaf community.

The blogs blasted the Wichita police department for the use of the taser. One blog gave the police department its weekly award for “most outrageous abuse of a Taser.”

Another blog listed the Wichita police as “The Barney Fife Police Academy” named after the deputy sheriff who starred in the old television series of “Mayberry.”

The incident began several weeks ago when the police department received a cell phone call about shots fired in a residence.
Believing there was a shooter and victims in the house, two police officers went into the residence and saw Donnell Williams, a 39 year old hard of hearing man, leaving the bathroom wearing a towel around his waist.

When Williams turned the corner, he saw guns pointing right at him.

Without wearing his hearing aids, Williams pointed to his ear and said “I can’t hear” several times.

The officers repeatedly shout at Williams to put his hands where they could be seen. Williams walked out of their field of view and came back.

William still would not comply with their orders. Then the officer shot Williams with a taser gun.

At the time when the taser gun was used, the officers said they did not know of Williams hearing condition.

Once the officers realized the call was a false report, they apologized numerous times for the breakdown in communication. Williams was not hurt and he has not filed a complaint with the City.

Recently, Wichita police department met with local deaf advocates from Wichita Association of the Deaf.

The local deaf advocates met several times with the Wichita police department over several years on complaints for failing to provide qualified interpreters when deaf people are arrested for various violations.

The local advocates wanted the City to retain a full-time interpreter and maintain a list of qualified interpreters. City of Wichita still does not have a full-time interpreter nor keep a list of qualified interpreters to use.

Fortunately, the City of Olathe has a full-time interpreter and keeps a list of qualified interpreters referral agencies to use. Due to the shortage of interpreters, it is not always possible to provide interpreter upon short notice.

(Leonard Hall writes a weekly column for the deaf community and can be reached at Legalnetwk@aol.com.)