Can we agree the tasering is getting out of hand?

Question

Now they use it on an autistic CHILD???

Gee, Mengele would be so proud.

I think it's time that police were given more training in the proper use of this potentially lethal weapon.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_re_us/taser_cases;_ylt=Ao8s0JwahBe.vcQprB5V2jhvzwcF

Your mama: 3 of my friends are cops, and 2 cops in my family, thank you very much.
I know what they go through.

Even they agree it was EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE.

Kathy: For a nurse, you are disturbingly incompassionate. Have you ever worked with autistic children?

I'll keep you in mind as I go through nursing school as an example of what NOT to become.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you. The taser was supposed to be a good alternate to subdue dangerous individuals instead of shooting them. Now it's being used indiscriminantly because it's easier for the cops to taser than to chase down and subdue a subject.
Unfortunately it's human nature to abuse, and when people start dying because of tasering then maybe the proper training will be given.

Answer 2

First, to the people that say that the Taser was designed as an alternative to shooting someone, you are very wrong. The taser is an alternative to using an ASP Baton or going hands on with a violent or non-compliant subject.

I think what has been forgotten is the number of police officers who are hurt and even killed every year going "hands on" with a suspect.

The simple truth is that is I encounter a subject and he becomes non-compliant or violent I have several choices.
1. I can use brute force IE: hands on and subdue the subject and in doing so subject the subject and myself to injury or death.
2. I can use my ASP Baton (which can easily become a deadly weapon) and risk the same outcome as number 1.
3. I can use my chemical agent and risk the chance of also being sprayed and becoming incapacitated.
4. I can use my non-lethal Taser thereby remaining a safe distance from the subject and getting compliance.

I don't think it takes much of a genius to figure out which one I am going to use.

I have been tased 3 times now and I am still alive and well. I don't think it is fair to take cases where a large, overweight suspect who is doped up then runs from the police dies afetr being tased.

Simply put the Taser is an effective weapon that is used in place of other non-lethal weapons that provides a non-violent solution to non-compliant subjects.

As far as the autistic 15 year old is concerned, I would have tased him too. I am curious to see what the reaction would have been if the police would have had to fight with him in the roadway causing multiple injuries or even worse watched as a car hit him and he died.

I think it is very easy for people not in law enforcement to judge the tactics of a lpolice officer when they do not have to deal with the situations that we do.

Answer 3

To the guy who mentioned the "militarization of law enforcement."

Oh my god, please get a clue. You think law enforcement is becoming more violent? Please, thirty years ago you could have taken a perp into an alley or an empty room and beat him purple and no one would have said a word about it.

Before you jump off and assume I am some sort of savage, I am not old enough to have been around for such behavior. Nor have I been a cop for anywhere close to long enough to have even seen a hint of anything like that. I am also not saying any of that was ever right, but it goes to show you how much the pengelum has swung in the other direction.

I'm a cop, and every single time I have to put my hands on a perp, in the back of my mind, I am thinking please god don't let this be the tonight's top story on police burtality. Since becomming a cop I have never been so close to being locked up, sued, and losing my home and every dime I have because some perp accuses me of ruffing him up. I'm the guy who in High School never even had a single day of detention, and never had a ticket in my entire life.

But now, even if I do my job 100% by the book, there is still a chance that something I do on the street will get me in such a jam that I could potentially end up in prison.

Police Brutality isn't on the rise. There are just more idiots running around out there with cell phone cams and video cams than ever before. And this growing media trend of reporting "police brutality" has put it into the minds of some people that cops can't put their hands on you and you are allowed to be aggressive and confrontational with the police.

Here is my best suggestion to everyone out there. If you don't want to be tazered, maced, cuffed, put on the ground, dragged out of a car, etc. then the next time you are stopped by the police do EXACTLY what they tell you to do. Don't fight, don't figit, don't argue. Just comply, it will be better for everyone involved. Even if you think the police are 100% in the wrong, just do what they are telling you. Trust me it will end better for everyone. You resisting is only going to make it worse.

On an ending side note two quick points:

1. Police Don't make the laws they only enforce them. If you have a problem with the law take it up with your congressman not the police.

2. I'm most states, it is ILLEGAL to resist arrest, EVEN IF THE ARREST IS NOT LEGAL in it of itself. That means that even if you think a cop is arresting you without cause, you DO NOT have the right to resist. Please keep that in mind.

Answer 4

You're absolutley right. Next time let the autistic child get hit by a car. That'll show those power hungry cops a thing or two.

Answer 5

It does seem excessive. It almost seems like some cops get off on tasering people. People like that have no business being law enforcement officers, whose job is to "protect and serve." It seems to be indicative of a larger trend of militarization of law enforcement. I really believe that many of these officers view the public as the enemy.

Answer 6

Come on...Read the article. The kid was running in and out of traffic...almost caused an accident. He was 15...that is NOT a child. Autistic or not...15 year olds can be very strong. It appears that if the police hadn't brought him down QUICKLY, he might have been killed or caused the death of someone else.

There's way too much armchair quarterbacking going on.

Edit: Yes...I have worked with self-destructive patients. I would call keeping them from hurting themselves, as well as others, compassionate. Tell me what is wrong with that concept.

And just how would you...in your obvious depth of knowledge on compassionate restraint have stopped this kid in the middle of a busy street?

Answer 7

I don't agree with you.

As for the training, I have been Tasered (about five or six times) in training. I'm still very much alive.

Answer 8

Yeah because since it's a less than lethal weapon cops tend to get trigger happy and they misuse it sometimes. To them it's a "non lethal" weapon but they don't realize that people have died from it.

Answer 9

you do know that tasering is often an alternative to shooting, right? i dont think you have any room to judge anyone on the police force unless you have been in their shoes. id like to see what decisions youd make in critical situations that officers deal with all day, every day.

Answer 10

So do you want to do something about vehicle accidents too? That is a way more significant issue that tasering, but no one seems to care.