O.K...deserved to be tazered or not?

[modarnis]

>>THe problem comes down to a public perception that cops have all these wonderful star wars less lethal easy capture tools when it just aint so. The problem is compounded by the increasing tendency of otherwise normal people to resist for no apparent reason.>>


As a prosecutor I see a growing number of incidents of relatively run of the mill speeding, stop sign, expired registration situations where people choose to fight with the police. At least once per month we have someone get violent in court over these kinds of stupid things too.

In the video, the cop gave repeated, calm, clear instructions to that motorist from the moment of first contact. She resisted his requests from the initial approach. Prior to the tazer being deployed, she was asked to "step" out of the vehicle no less than 4 times, with at least 2 warnings that the tazer would be coming if she failed to comply. Oh well, she should not be surprised when the officer makes good on his statement.

It is the classic criminal trying to negotiate. Listen closely. First its the I know my rights/I know the law. When that didn't work it was the race card/po-lice hassling her family, then it was the call someone who cares on the phone to alert them to the "miscarriage of justice" The cop on the other hand was calm and professional. As a professional who reviews these type of incidents, it was textbook police work. He worked his way up the force continuom from verbal, to a hands on escort attempt, to deployment of a less lethal, the tazer.

 

[hemi]

The question then becomes excessive compared to what? To cracking her with a baton? To grappling with her and dislocating a joint? To punching her?

THe problem comes down to a public perception that cops have all these wonderful star wars less lethal easy capture tools when it just aint so. The problem is compounded by the increasing tendency of otherwise normal people to resist for no apparent reason.

..

Hmm where to start, fist off I think the officer was VERY justified in doing what he did. I also think that she should think herself lucky that’s all she got. Seems to me that America needs a reality check the general public takes and runs with all these video clips doing anything they can to deface the men and women of law enforcement. It’s very easy for the average person to sit in their safe home and see something on TV. And think wow that was overboard. I bet if the rolls were reversed, and that same person found themselves faced with a life or death situation I bet they would think different.



It just makes me crazy to think we want people to go and “catch the bad guys” and keep us safe and protect us. But America does not want to equip and give the ability to use what ever force is necessary to do this in a manner that is safe for the Law Enforcement officers.



I am considering a career change into law enforcement but I am hesitant for several reasons. I hate the fact that if some nut bag waves a gun around and threatens people in his surroundings and I had to use deadly force to stop that threat I may have to go before a jury to see if I will go on trial. How can you expect anyone to go and do a dangerous job putting their life on the line. Then place the added burden of telling them you have to take down this armed suspect but if you have to use deadly force to do so you may face jail yourself. That is crazy

 

[Cruentus]

The question then becomes excessive compared to what? To cracking her with a baton? To grappling with her and dislocating a joint? To punching her?
..

The problem is that people don't realize that the Tazer is less harmful with less of a chance of perminent injury then trying to wrestle someone out of a car.

 

[dearnis.com]

No, the problem is that our society has been dumbed down to the point where people think actions have no consequences, no one accepts responsibility for anything, and everyone thinks they are special and that the rules dont apply.

 

[swiftpete]

Yeah i agree..people who don't take responsibility for their own actions annoy me more than anything. At least if you have done something wrong accept you've done something rather than try to blame someone else. i see it a lot and it always gets me!

I can imagine this woman sitting round with her family afterwards and them all tutting about how racist and violent the police are. When it was her attitude that led to the tazering anyway, like someone said earlier she could've been directing someone with a gun to the scene so he had to deal with it and he did give her enough warnings.
When i'm pulled over for i never argue with the police that have pulled me over, they are people after all and if you argue and cause a scene for no reason of course they're going to take it the next level, if i was police i'd do the same.


So anyway yeah i think she deserved it and personally i burst out laughing when i saw him do it.

 

[dscott]

No, the problem is that our society has been dumbed down to the point where people think actions have no consequences, no one accepts responsibility for anything, and everyone thinks they are special and that the rules dont apply.

People also have a complete lack of respect for authority. Whether it be police, teachers or parents.

 

[Grenadier]

Justified!

The officer gave her repeated warnings, even politely, and even told her what he would do if she did not comply. All of this time, she was babbling into her phone, asserting that the officer had a gun and was going to shoot her.

Her license was suspended, and she should not have been driving in the first place.

 

[arnisador]

As a professional who reviews these type of incidents, it was textbook police work. He worked his way up the force continuom from verbal, to a hands on escort attempt, to deployment of a less lethal, the tazer.

Yes, he did handle it very professionally. Your comments remind us that that's not merely appropriate because he is a professional--it's also smart because these things can end up in court, and perception will matter. Had she fallen and broken a wrist when tazed, there'd be a lawsuit for sure.

 

[arnisador]

When i'm pulled over for i never argue with the police that have pulled me over, they are people after all and if you argue and cause a scene for no reason of course they're going to take it the next level

Yes, I still find it hard to believe that she could really think that her attitude would be helpful. If you're pulled over, they will run a check on your plate and see if you have a valid license--it's going to happen. Even viewed as pure strategy, I don't see what she gains.

 

[Tgace]

IMO..car cameras are a bigger minus for the officer than a plus. Its to the point now where the defense wants to see the tapes more than the prosecution does...

 

[Kembudo-Kai Kempoka]

That made my day. Thank you for posting a link to this video. At the risk of sounding sick and jaded, the idiot was warned repeatedly of the upcoming effects of her failure to comply. Common sense ain't so common. If, while you're in voilation, a cop with a gun to your head -- or tazer pointed atcha -- says "jump", it's a good time to see just how high you can go.

Regards,

D.

 

[Tgace]

Unless it shows the police rescuing little duckies from a storm drain or shooting down bank robbers wearing body armor and carrying AK47's, most people just dont want to see, or cant accept the reality of, police work. Especially the more commonplace use of force incidents out there. The taser gets a bad rep because the subject yells and falls down and thrashes around. Im telling ya, Id rather be tasered than deal with the hours of aftereffects from OC. Which by looks seems harmless because the subject just stands there and gasps, blinks, freezes. The initial pain of the taser is worse, but when its over you are back to normal fairly quickly.

And when you go home and shower after being tasered you dont get zapped all over again. But with OC the stuff washes out of your hair and eyebrows and here ya go again....

 

[Cruentus]

No, the problem is that our society has been dumbed down to the point where people think actions have no consequences, no one accepts responsibility for anything, and everyone thinks they are special and that the rules dont apply.

Yup...well, that would be the bigger problem.

 

[Booie_101]

Hell yes....

He asked the nice way....