The guy wouldn’t have been tasered if he wasn’t punching his sister and then lunged at the cop. Case closed. The police should be able to use every tool available on the market that allows them to keep themselves and law abiding citizens safe.

In this case, if in fact the perp was lunging at the one officer on the scene, I think the Taser was quite called for. However, I do also agree with Anonoman that SOME officers do use the taser a little too readily. I do think that this number is probably very small. But they do happen and should be handled appropriately with disciplinary action. A group of cops that can’t handle one unarmed woman, 17 year old kid, or elderly person without tasering them probably shouldn’t be cops. With that said, I think cops should have the taser available to them as a tool, but that taser should be always be considered a weapon that can take a life, like a gun is. There’s an investigation practically every time a bullet is fired by a police officer, the same should hold true for taser use.

If the sister had used a taser on her brother to defend herself against a beating, and he died because of it, it would be considered self-defense. She had nothing with which to defend herself, so it is fortunate that the cop had a taser to use. Cops should be allowed to use whatever tools necessary to take down a person who is physically harming someone else, or threatening to physically harm someone else.

I think some cops use them when they aren’t needed, but most follow guidelines. I am wondering why more citizens don’t understand resisting a law enforcement officer isn’t going to bring you good things. I don’t like to bow to authority either, but hey! Rev Scott is already out hassling the cops who stopped the latest “Mr Wonderful Let’s Do A Goosechase And Put Everyone In Danger” in IL this week. I’m tired of hearing on the news each night the latest inhuman behavior from these litter-breeding criminals. I’ll tip the cops well who beat the crap out of someone who does a crime on me, but most wouldn’t accept it. They take the trash out for us for very little reward. From the tapes, it looked like the cops did the best they could to bring that chase to an end with no injuries. Scott needs to acknowledge most bait the cops and they egg on “beating behavior”. They can them go back to their pin-headed buddies and brag. Many in Scott’s community are mentally ill and drug addicted. How else would you have us regulate anti-social behaviors?
Cops are just the poor sad sacks who have to deal with catered to, undisciplined, immoral peoples that parents should have dealt with. Here’s a thought. Cop asks you to stop…nut up and do it. Yeah Bunky…YOU give ‘em a reason then whine like a little girl and call mamma for bail. Wussies! Do you think the folks who the cops have to deal with are in the best of health to begin with from drug/alcohol/cigarette abuse and a fast food lifestyle? Rev Scott…I am tempted to put you in a room with somebody on PCP, then ask you to subdue them nicely and gently. Or we will sue you and question your professionalism if you insult, offend or bruise them in the process. I want my thin blue line to stand tall. The alternative makes me shudder. Lets’ just go back to fighting labor law abuses and other forms of discrimination and give the cops a pass now and then, shall we Rev Scott? Did you forgive the biker who hit you when you stepped out in front of him and nearly killed him? Did you refuse any monies from that incident, or did you collect a bundle? See…second guessing isn’t fun. Make the criminals wonder if they have finally met their match. Maybe think twice about the next crime of silliness and danger to others.

Times have changed. Leave it to Beaver days are GONE. Police are outgunned, outnumbered and fighting a loosing battle. Even a child can kill you with remorse. As a result cops have become paranoid, untrusting and even a little scared.

An officer has just a split second to respond to a situation, be it a brother beating his sister or a kid waving a gun around at school. The wrong decision could cost lives.

If you take away the tazers then give them another option. When every other man, woman AND CHILD on the street has a gun, then what chance does a cop have if they are not even allowed a tazer?

Really, does this even need to be debated? Of course they should use any means necessary to protect themselves and others.

Anon, a club requires an officer to be within a few feet of an assailant. I think I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt and let them taze away from 20ft out.

Amazed said: “a club requires an officer to be within a few feet of an assailant. I think I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt and let them taze away from 20ft out.”

If the situation called for a club level response, I am fine with an officer choosing the Taser rather than the baton. Once again – I am not saying this most recent case was unjustified. In fact, the more details that come out, the more justified it seems.

However, the fact remains, many officers misuse Tasers. They will Taser a person just for backtalk. Officers have Tased (and killed) teenagers and women. Some officers are using Tasers as an alternative to discussion, when in fact every Taser use could be potentially fatal. There are levels of force for a reason. Tasers should be at or above the level of a club, as they kill more people than clubs. To reiterate, an officer should only use a Taser in a situation that calls for force just this side of lethal.

Don’t get me wrong, I am hardly a tree hugger. I think police should have guns (as well properly trained citizens). But if a citizen or an officer uses a weapon, they should be prepared to defend that action as justified – and part of that justification should include the levels of force. You do not shoot a person for being a jerk, and despite some peoples thin skins, harsh and insulting language is not justification for lethal force.

Untill you respond to this type of call and deal with these types of people every day, then keep your negative opinions to yourself. Heres a hint…when your told to stop…stop and you wont get hurt.

I have a question for the Mom who is demanding justice for her son…What about the justice for your daughter? She was being assaulted by your son, and her brother. If she was being assaulted by another man, and the results were the same…you would be saying the cop was a hero for saving your daughter. Well what a shock, now it will turn into a race and money issue. You say you want justice, thats a joke…you want a big payday

Danny,

In your first post you say that unless you’re an officer dealing with calls you shouldn’t comment on the actions of an officer.

In your second post you tell a mother who’s son is dead, and not even buried that she is a greedy race baiter and the only thing she wants is a pay day.

These two posts show exactly whats wrong with many officers. These bad officers show utter contempt for the people they “serve”, debasing them and degrading them at every opportunity. Yet they themselves feel entitled to be treated with the respect due a regent – anything less than instant obedience and a strict “yes sir” is grounds for a potentially lethal response.

I hope you aren’t really an officer – and if you are, I urge you to find a new line of work. The world doesn’t need officers who see the public as the enemy and themselves as the tread upon soldier.

Just two thoughts;

First, I’d rather be tased than shot. If the officer shot instead of tased someone, I think we’d all agree the likelihood of dying would be greater. Just looking at the odds.

Secondly, trying to equate the taser just above a baton may seem reasonable, but for someone on crack, you could use a baton to whip the living daylights out of him and he’d still be unaffected. It happens all the time. A taser temporarily incapacitates even the craziest of nuts.