Taser Found Liable in Wrongful Death Suit

[riddler 0]

Quote

Because while for most people a taze is just a seriously unpleasant experience, it's obvious that it has the potential to be far more dangerous for people with heart conditions.

Especially when you're heart is enlarged from chronic drug use and you happen to be on meth at the time. Just say "no" to drugs, unless it's your partner - in that case, encourage them to get high, hassle the police and get tased. If they die, you don't have to put up with them anymore, and you can sue and make millions. Maybe even write a book.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[Scoop 0]

Quote

hassle the police and get tased. If they die, you don't have to put up with them anymore, and you can sue and make millions. Maybe even write a book.

Is that the American Dream?

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

Don't question my dedication.

When you post stuff like the above, it's sort of hard not to. You don't remember WHY you were chasing them, but it was more important to get a funny picture of your partner.

Quote

Is it more important to catch someone for stealing a 40 pence packet of crisps or to give first aid to your crew member? It just so happens that in the boot of our cars we carry Polaroid cameras

Going back to the car, getting the camera and going back to take a funny picture != "first aid". It also proves my point that either your foot pursuit was bogus or your dedication to the job is - take your pick.

Asking "are ya ok mate" as you run past and then making a radio call for medical support if needed seems a bit more appropriate.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[nerdgirl 0]

Quote

I highly suggest that you (and everyone else reading this) contact their local police department or sheriff's office and ask about civilian ride along. Also ask about citizen's police academy.

After your suggestion in a post Sunday (?), I submitted an application for the Atlanta Citizens Police Academy. Was not aware such things existed. Great suggestion! Thanks!

VR/Marg

Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters.
Tibetan Buddhist saying

[AggieDave 6]

That's great!

I promise you that it will be an eye opening and interesting learning experience. I'm more then sure that at least one ride along is apart of the program. I warn you, though, that CSI type shows will really annoy you once you see how and why things are really done.

Once you complete the program I implore you to document your experience and share it with us here. maybe talk about what you thought officers did in certain situations and what you learned they really did and why? I'm very excited for you.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Scoop 0]

Stop being a dick. It obviously wasn't anything important. We've all done it and similar things. Being part of a team involves piss taking.

We definately appear to have a culture conflict here. We can run after whoever we like. We don't need a reason to talk to someone, we would need a reason to restrain someone but often if you catch up with people they will stop and talk. Good example is kids that are drinking underage or when we respond to a call and a group starburst and we don't knoww hat offences, if any, have been committed at that point.

I hate lazy officers and I hate ineffective officers which is why I get annoyed when people question me.

[mnealtx 0]

Definitely a difference in culture.... but if you're going to call out someone on THEIR procedures, expect to have yours questioned in turn, especially if you hold yours up as being better.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[billvon 3,116]

Your one warning. Enough with the attacks.

[Scoop 0]

I still think to use a taser as a 'remote control' simply to gain compliance (think of the videos of people refusing to get out the cab of their cars we've all seen) is disgusting. If you did so over here you'd be sacked and face criminal prosecution.

As a side note, some of thebeauracracy in the police is legendary and someone once made a joke 'foot chase policy' as a parrallel to our sometimes ridiculous vehicle pursuit policy. Can't find it online though

[Scoop 0]

Quote

Your one warning

Noted

[mnealtx 0]

As a *GENERALITY*, I think that compliance devices are a good thing.

I also know that for every ONE instance of someone being "abused" with one, there's dozens more where it was used appropriately.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[AggieDave 6]

Quote

I also know that for every ONE instance of someone being "abused" with one, there's dozens more where it was used appropriately.

How many hundreds of thousands of LEOs are there in the US? How many of them carry tasers? How many of them inappropiately deploy their taser? How many of them keep their jobs after that?

I cringe every time I see an officer doing something that is wrong, violates someone's civil rights or uses excessive force on the news. That's with the understanding that typically the media doesn't report the full or correct information. It lowers the public perception of officers with each story. Thank god that corruption and abuse is atypical as a whole.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Scoop 0]

Definately. But if you need to gain compliance there are safer ways in alot of circumstances. It is effective though! I can see why people are keen to use it. It beats risking getting an injury yourself I suppose.

Anyway, my shift ended six hours ago ad I feel like I never went home with all this talk so I'm gonna bow out of this one. Was good to discuss.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

I also know that for every ONE instance of someone being "abused" with one, there's dozens more where it was used appropriately.

Unfortunately, that's not a sufficient defense when deaths are involved.

And the problem here isn't always with individual officers, but rather the department policy. Similar issue exists on the difficult matter of high speed chases.

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

Quote

I also know that for every ONE instance of someone being "abused" with one, there's dozens more where it was used appropriately.

Unfortunately, that's not a sufficient defense when deaths are involved.

And the problem here isn't always with individual officers, but rather the department policy. Similar issue exists on the difficult matter of high speed chases.

I don't disagree...merely pointing out it is the EXCEPTION and not the rule, that's all.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[skycop 0]

Just my two cents worth,
Where I worked (I just retired) we didn't have tazers or OC, we either communicated effectively or we used physical force. It was a dual edged situtation, since we had no tasers you had to communicate well or you'd be fighting all the time. All our use of force's were reviewed by the chain of command. Aggiedave correctly pointed out somewhere earlier in the thread that sometimes you have to fight regardless. There are knuckleheads who will fight regardless of how hard you try not to for any number of reasons. Looks like the guy in this situation was high on meth and had other factors, the taser didn't do that.
I wish we did have tasers, we recently had a situation where a drunk injured two officers, one eventually had to medically retire. Both these officers were experienced, in good shape and weren't guys that normally use force much. This situation was a text book example for the deployment of the taser. The fight would have been brief and minimal physical contact would had to be used.

"Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

[lawrocket 3]

Check out offensive nonmutual collateral estoppel for some cool reading.

My wife is hotter than your wife.