Oct. 11, 2009 (United Press International) -- The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have directed officers to change the way they use stun guns following a stun gun-related death, officials said.

Some other police agencies are also following the directive, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Sunday. The guidance from Taser International (NASDAQ:TASR) cautions against chest shots and advises officers to target the abdomen, legs or back.

"When possible, avoiding chest shots with electronic control devices avoids the controversy about whether ECDs (electronic control devices) do or do not affect the human heart," the directive said.

Winnipeg Police will follow the directive, City Councilman Gord Steeves, who heads the council's police committee, told CBC News, for safety and legal reasons.

"You'd be wise to follow that, firstly of course from a safety perspective, and secondly from a liability perspective," he said. "You better work that into your policy, if the company who makes the product is actually saying that."