Tasers: Enemy of the Free

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
201

So which one of you will be patrolling to find that white van a rapist was reported to be driving? Will any of you be dropping in on husbands beating the shit out of their wives and kids? Will you guys respond to the hostage situation? Are you going to break the news to the parents of murder victims? You going to secure and investigate the 4 day old dead body? Not damned likely. “It’s someone else’s problem.”

Deal with cops as individuals. By all means, demand action to be taken against the bad ones. I had no problems calling out the cop in the taser video. Nor, do I respect the current victimless crime laws. But, this generalizing of police officers is juvenile.

202

There are a few good ones. They are the ones who don’t tend to stay in the business very long.

If the standards were raised (a lot) for hiring cops, I would not mind one bit paying them more and being taxed to fund it.

Smart ones either move up very quickly or move out very quickly. Police departments have even turned down very intelligent applicants because they know this. High IQ’s don’t normally mix well with the rest of the bubba types.

Most of them simply need to do their job, leave law abiding citzens alone, and if they don’t have enough to do chasing actual criminals, try to learn how to make pizza.

203

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?s=7446220

Donnell Williams had just gotten out of the bath tub, wearing only a towel around his waist, when he turned the corner to see guns pointing right at him.

“I ain’t never been so scared,” says Williams.

Police forced entry into Williams home while responding to a shooting, but it turned out to be a false call. They had no idea at the time the call wasn’t real and that Williams is hearing impaired. Without his hearing aid he is basically deaf.

“I kept going to my ear yelling that I was scared. I can’t hear! I can’t hear!”

Officers were worried about their own safety because at the time it appeared Williams was refusing to obey their commands to show his hands. That’s when they shot him with a Taser.

Deputy Chief Robert Lee of the Wichita Police Department says, “This one occurred on the worst of calls, that being a shooting. The first few minutes getting control of the scene are very, very important.”

Once the facts were all sorted out, officers repeatedly apologized to Williams. Police wish it never happened, but with the information they had at the time, their choices were limited.

“Do I wish there would have been some way they were notified in advance this gentleman was hearing impaired? I certainly do. No one is happy with the way it worked out,” says Lee.

Williams was not hurt in the incident. Police say the shooting call came from a cell phone but they still don’t know who made it or why.

The case is being reviewed by the department.

204

[quote]Sloth wrote:
But, this generalizing of police officers is juvenile.[/quote]

You are absolutely right. It just makes me angrier when they get away with it. Its like I said earlier back…the police are always justified and the perp is always guilty of bing a threat. I do not like those statistics. If anyone can find stories of cops actually brining smiles to people’s faces I will apologize for my earlier statements.

205

This one blows my mind!

Deaf Man Won’t Comply With Police Orders:

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?s=7446220

How did cops abuse people before it became so easily justified with tasers?

206

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
This one blows my mind!

Deaf Man Won’t Comply With Police Orders:

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?s=7446220

How did cops abuse people before it became so easily justified with tasers?[/quote]

With nightsticks, rubber hoses etc. That is why tasers are better.

207

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
This one blows my mind!

Deaf Man Won’t Comply With Police Orders:

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?s=7446220

How did cops abuse people before it became so easily justified with tasers?

With nightsticks, rubber hoses etc. That is why tasers are better.[/quote]

Yeah…right! Rubber hoses and night sticks? I doubt they’d just start swinging away without figuring out if the effort is worth it.

208

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
This one blows my mind!

Deaf Man Won’t Comply With Police Orders:

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?s=7446220

How did cops abuse people before it became so easily justified with tasers?

With nightsticks, rubber hoses etc. That is why tasers are better.

Yeah…right! Rubber hoses and night sticks? I doubt they’d just start swinging away without figuring out if the effort is worth it.[/quote]

You asked. That is how they abused people in the old days. They also used choke holds (which were made illegal) to subdue unruly people as well as wrestling them to the ground, making them eat concrete and yanking their limbs around.

Poor policework did not originate with tasers.

209

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
You asked. That is how they abused people in the old days. They also used choke holds (which were made illegal) to subdue unruly people as well as wrestling them to the ground, making them eat concrete and yanking their limbs around.

Poor policework did not originate with tasers.[/quote]

But don’t you think the instance of abuse was probably much less with the above mentioned tactics? My reasoning is that anyone who has to use his own force usually thinks twice before reacting. It just seems to me that tasers reduce that second attempt at rationalization which helps reduce the instances of unnecessary escalation of force.

It seems to me we were safer when police were forced to think before acting…just my opinion.

210

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
You asked. That is how they abused people in the old days. They also used choke holds (which were made illegal) to subdue unruly people as well as wrestling them to the ground, making them eat concrete and yanking their limbs around.

Poor policework did not originate with tasers.

But don’t you think the instance of abuse was probably much less with the above mentioned tactics? My reasoning is that anyone who has to use his own force usually thinks twice before reacting. It just seems to me that tasers reduce that second attempt at rationalization which helps reduce the instances of unnecessary escalation of force.

It seems to me we were safer when police were forced to think before acting…just my opinion.[/quote]

Possibly but at the same time when the cops deal with someone that is not responding to their demands they always use force. They may be quicker on the taser but eventually they use force and I would rather be tased than the alternatives.

211

Who ever thought it would be a good idea to give cops a new weapon and tell them: “These hurt a hell of a lot, but they won’t kill.”

Sheesh.

212

The news tonight said that the cops had the wrong house. Not only did they protect themselves from a half naked, unarmed, deaf man…they had the WRONG DAMN HOUSE TO BEGIN WITH.

This actually happens quite a bit.

213

[quote]Go-Rilla wrote:
The news tonight said that the cops had the wrong house. Not only did they protect themselves from a half naked, unarmed, deaf man…they had the WRONG DAMN HOUSE TO BEGIN WITH.

This actually happens quite a bit.[/quote]

Well, that’s hardly the cops’ fault. House numbers routinely go above 20; how do you expect them to find the right one when they run out of toes and fingers?

214

[quote]pookie wrote:
Well, that’s hardly the cops’ fault. House numbers routinely go above 20; how do you expect them to find the right one when they run out of toes and fingers?
[/quote]
Pookie, these are two different concepts – counting and number recognition. Even a 4 year old can recognize numbers. This the equivalent we are talking about. They were just not paying attention to detail.

If they were actually required to count we would have cause to worry.

215

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
pookie wrote:
Well, that’s hardly the cops’ fault. House numbers routinely go above 20; how do you expect them to find the right one when they run out of toes and fingers?

Pookie, these are two different concepts – counting and number recognition. Even a 4 year old can recognize numbers. This the equivalent we are talking about. They were just not paying attention to detail.

If they were actually required to count we would have cause to worry.[/quote]

You’re right. It our own damn fault. I mean, our houses look rather similar and all doors are standard sized.

It’d be a lot easier if they knew they had to bust-in in the pineapple shaped house with a green door in the shape of a star. We’re really not helping our cause here.

216

Hmmmm…my suspicions are correct.

Police Brutality on the Rise Since 9/11:

217

Don’t Ride Bike w/out Proper Lighting:

http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_8104993

218

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Don’t Ride Bike w/out Proper Lighting:

http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_8104993 [/quote]

Bicyclist tased when he runs for minor infraction
By E-R Staff
Article Launched: 01/29/2008 12:00:00 AM PST

HAMILTON CITY – A man riding a bicycle with improper lighting equipment was shot with a Taser stun gun Wednesday night as he ran from a deputy who tried to stop him for the infraction.

After repeated attempts, Glenn County sheriff’s deputy Cale Smith said he finally got the attention of the rider on Sierra Street, who jumped from the bike and began running.

After a half-block chase and several warnings from Smith that he would use the Taser, he did.

Sgt. Scott James said only one probe struck the man, identified as Omar Herrada Rivera, 39, and he received no shock.

Smith caught up with him near the garage of a home, and took him into custody after a brief struggle.

James said Smith was fully justified in firing his Taser, because Rivera was running toward a home, and could have endangered people inside.

“We consider the Taser as being at the same level of force as other weapons, including pepper spray and batons,” James said.

He added that deputies don’t deploy Tasers against subjects who are driving or riding a bike because of the risk factor.

Rivera was transported to Glenn Medical Center, where he was cleared for booking into the Glenn County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, riding a bicycle without proper lighting, riding under the influence of alcohol and use of false citizenship/government documents.

Don’t run from the cops. Don’t ride your bike drunk in the dark with no lights. You might get run over.

I see nothing wrong with the cops actions.

220

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
This one blows my mind!

Deaf Man Won’t Comply With Police Orders:

http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?s=7446220

How did cops abuse people before it became so easily justified with tasers?

With nightsticks, rubber hoses etc. That is why tasers are better.

Yeah…right! Rubber hoses and night sticks? I doubt they’d just start swinging away without figuring out if the effort is worth it.

You asked. That is how they abused people in the old days. They also used choke holds (which were made illegal) to subdue unruly people as well as wrestling them to the ground, making them eat concrete and yanking their limbs around.

Poor policework did not originate with tasers.[/quote]

Tazers hurt, but the hurt wears off. It also puts the suspect on the ground, where they can be safely cuffed without as much chance of hurting themselves or others. When the batons come out, the hurt lasts for days, and sometimes bones get broken or organs get bruised. A baton hit to the head is considered using deadly force in some departments use of force continuum. When used correctly, the taser is a much safer and more humane option then using a night stick. (sarcasm)But we should absolutely get rid of all police, an declare martial law, and just have soldiers crusing the streets in humvees instead. (Sarcasm)