skycop

If the taser is intended as a less-lethal substitute for a firearm Some people (including you evidently) think it is part of the job to be injured. I've never had a problem putting my safety in jeopardy for someone (usally someone I don't know). But is not my job to accept injuries when they are absolutely preventable. Or because someone thinks my daily job description involves mano y mano macho fights. When I choose to use force, my use of force is going to be sudden, violent as it needs to be per policy, and not "fair" by any stretch of the imagination. In this case the guy had some mental issues, a language barrier, and it looked like maybe some medical issues as well. The use of force here was not "fight" type violent, there were no punches thrown or ASP strikes. If you watch the whole video the guy was crashing and throwing things including a chair and what looks like a computer. The guy starts to move away from the officers, that's when he gets tazed. The officers have to look a few steps ahead, if the guy gets away from them what is he going to do? What if he grabs another person or a kid? Airports now are no places to take chances, when he starts moving the officers stop that movement by the most effect tool there. It is not in the officers job description to receive the first shot, then react. My jaw was broken in less that half a second, it happend I dealt with it. That doesn't mean I have to make a habit of it to please people who don't or refuse to understand how the use of force works. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

This man would still be alive had they just performed CPR on him (no guarantees but it is worth the try) WTF? Draw their firearm, did you want them to shoot him, instead of fight him? I love the notion of some on here that "it took four of them", THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA, I DON'T WANT A FAIR FIGHT, I WANT TO WIN, that's how I go home at night. The alternative to the tazer here was drawn, but not used. On of the officers has his ASP out, it's a collapsible baton. If he would of struck this guy with that you'd be on here bitching how they beat him down. Hate to say it, could this have been handled better, maybe. Was this by the numbers, yes. Reality is an ugly thing. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

That 'splains it........... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I think you were probably disappointed that they snatched your ex-wife's purse............instead if her (at least that's why I'd be bummed)..... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

It's the vast right wing conspiracy against you doc................... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Sorry man, Have to disagree with you on this one. Users vs. dealers when it comes to crack offenses are two different animals. I see the results of crack use and the destruction it causes on a DAILY basis. This same type of enforcement is being used on meth as well, and their is no "racial" component when it comes to meth. I agree the "war on drugs" needs some overhaul, but crack and meth are the poster children of why we NEED a war on drugs. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Yea you're right, those damn skateboarders...... It's not a question of ignore, it's a question of solvability factors and resource allocation, especially in urban areas. The sad truth is police departments have to set their priorities in line with available resources. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

And plus. It was just a foundation saver, what's the harm in that? We beat them in the football game 3 out of 4 years. Then we all (the cops) got too old and the bosses started bitching about all the injuries. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I thought the very same thing.......... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

it does make it just a tiny bit questionable*** This one was not questionable, just good clean fun with electricity, after spending a night knocking heads..... "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

i'm much more worried about him really being a cop.. *** Geez, Lighten up dude, this is the bonfire not SC. Let me give you some context, the guy who got shocked was a fireman who volunteered. This happened during the after-party of a charity full contact (pads and all) police vs. fire football game. Our firefighter friend kept making comments about getting zapped was no big deal yada, yada, yada. When he did get it he fell like a sack of potatoes, hit his head was knocked out for a second or two. There were plenty of Paramedic/EMS types there so he was just fine. That's what made it funny, even the fire guys laughed their asses off after everyone (including the cops) heard the thud and gasped when he hit the deck. Two of cohorts were supposed to catch him but missed. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Ahhhh..........hmmmm.....ya..... I've HEARD of tazers being taken to parties for alcohol fueled fun Actually, I watched a fireman get zapped at a party once. That was one of the funniest things I ever saw, we thought he was dead. He got stiff as a board and fell head first onto the floor, knocked him out cold. This guy kept saying how he could take it and it was no big deal, WRONG! "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Not a macho statement, It better be damn well important that he got in a fight, hence winning. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

I see what you're saying BUT, so far, it's worked like a charm. I've got a nerd and an jock(what a combo). I told my nerd if you are picked on, laugh at the person, it drives them nuts! She is in college now and she still talks about it. My jock is still in high school and he has never been in a fight. He knows if he fights, number one he better win, number two, number one better have been serious enough too fight in the first place. I've come to find out that he has put himself between would-be bullies and victims and dared the bully to start something. That in itself makes me proud. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

The UH-60 is too much for alot of missions, but not enough for others. Buying off-the-shelf equipment for demanding military missions is always risky. The two most recent examples are both American and Euro. The Bell ARH (407) has had problems, now the Eurocopter is the same. Eurocopter makes excellent helicopters, take my word for it, riding in an air conditioned AS350 is much more comfortable than thumping along in an OH-58 in the heat of August The military procurement process as cumbersome as it may be. (normally) produces results, albeit expensive ones. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

The political correct answer would be "better parenting." In reality it would be not to have a victim mentality. I've taught my kids from day one not to fight however, if someone bullies them or they feel threatened, then the best defense is a good offense. Even a small kid standing up to a bully normally cures that behavior. Other kids will stand up for a weak one if he/she stands up for themselves. My kids didn't fight much, but I learned later they stood up for kids they really didn't like. I guess that would be good parenting, so maybe it does come back to that. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Hmmm...... Do you need a special chest strap on your rig? "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

These guys definitely need some "sensitivity" training. There is probably a little more to this that the media is leaving out or don't know. One thing for sure, it is a public relations nightmare. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that the reason you guys carry concealed weapons is in case you might need to protect yourself. When you leave your house and you strap on your gun, do you also put on a bullet proof vest, you know just in case you might need to protect yourself? *** Well yes I do! It makes me look fat(er), or as my mom used to call it, HUSKY.............. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Just as an FYI for you...the public has a perfect right to take pictures or film anything that they wish, so long as it is not in a POSTED 'no photos' area - you may want to remember that, the next time you macho up on someone and tell them "it will be decided by a jury of their peers". *** I'm perfectly aware of the what the public can and can't do, but thanks for the info. As far a "machoing up", this guy decided to turn this into a pissing contest. When people turn situations I'm involved in into pissing contests, I give them all their options, trial by jury is just one. I watched the unedited video, the guy initially went across the street then called his boss. The guy actually says "I'm going to get arrested, film it" or something along those lines. That is making news not reporting it, as I posted earlier. It also appears school was letting out and the reporter was positioned by a gate that students use to leave, this gate appears to lead to a heavily traveled multi-lane street. The mere presence of the reporter (on the school side of the street) caused a large group kids to gather on the sidewalk out of curiosity. Couple that with a busy intersection, distracted kids and that IS a safety hazard. I'm sure the cops and administration didn't perceive it to be as much of a hazard across the street, at least that's how I read it. All the guy had to do was stay across the street and everything is good. Again, that location doesn't affect his shot or story. Could this have been handled better, sure it could. I would venture to say that school board police and many administrators didn't have much training in dealing with the media, they will now. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

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

Unless it's an active crime scene the media is standing in the administration has no right to order police to prevent them from reporting on public spaces or property or and much as I can draw to hate the media the use of a police force or other government agency anywhere to prevent the free working and reporting of the media in a public space detests me more then my hatred towards the media I would venture to say the opposite, we (the police) have no obligation to feed the 24-hour news cycle. The afternoon local newscasts now are 90-min in many markets, that space has to be filled. The media, mainly television go out looking for news where before there would be none, sometimes even MAKING news, as evidenced here. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

He was in no way screwed as a matter of fact the officers gave him an out, the reporter chose not to take that out. The media cannot go anywhere you can't, you can't just stroll onto school property, neither can they. The property is the real question here, the gun is just a rather large nail in the coffin. The only thing I can fault the officer for is going after the camera. I don't mind being filmed (under certain guidelines), if somebody feels they are right, I think I'm right, and they won't budge. I'll let them know it will be decided by a jury of their peers, and someone can film that interaction all they want. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

Once the media shows up in droves, it absolutely becomes a safety issue, unless an organized press conference is called. This is a school, the administration is there to help the students learn. The media just showing up to start filming unannounced is disruptive in itself, times that by three or four and it becomes a huge issue. The administration can determine who can be let into or onto school grounds, couple that with a ARMED reporter and I would have hooked the guy too. You have no way of knowing if there was a safety issue or not, unless you have information I've not yet seen - the mere presence of people doesn't equate to a safety issue. I absolutely know (this general kind of situation), even if I wasn't there, I deal with the media on a regular basis. The key is if they were on school grounds, that will be decided by the court. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"

The number of competing media sensationalizing the headlines with an inaccurate account *** Exactly why the school administration probably didn't want the media inside the "zone". I'm sure the officers were acting on orders from the administration. You obviously have never dealt with the media, it may be business in your mind. That business is selling advertising space while reporting the news. I'm sure the school did not want to be a part of that "business". That business also has nothing to do with the day to day actual operation of the school. "Just 'cause I'm simple, don't mean I'm stewpid!"