Author Topic: Bad Idea to Tazer Granny (Read 928 times)

rpm · « **on:** August 21, 2004, 05:07:03 AM »

Cops Disciplined for Tasering Grandmother

Quote

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Police said Friday two officers have been disciplined and department policy changed following an investigation into the officers use of a taser when arresting a 66-year-old grandmother who honked her car horn at a police cruiser.

Louise Jones was arrested in June on charges of misuse of a car horn on a city street, resisting arrest and intentionally inflicting bodily harm on an officer. Her husband, Fred Jones, 74, was also arrested and charged with interfering with an arrest.

Police said Louise Jones tussled with officers when they tried to give her a ticket for honking the horn. One of the officers used the taser, which is capable of issuing a 50,000-volt shock, to stun her. The officers said Fred Jones then came downstairs and jumped on one of the officers' backs.

Louise Jones said she pulled away from the police when one of the officers grabbed her arm, and her husband said one of the officers had his knee on his wife's chest.

As a result of an internal investigation, the department has increased the threshold for when taser use is appropriate.

beet1e · « **Reply #1 on:** August 21, 2004, 05:26:03 AM »

Aha! Is this what they call "freedom" - in a Police state? Wonder what our friend T will have to say about this. I think it was in his back yard.

Toad · « **Reply #2 on:** August 21, 2004, 08:49:45 AM »

It was right across the state line in Missouri.

Here's what I have to say about it and it has no more to do with a "police state" than it would anywhere else when cops act outside their departments guidlines.

These cops were WAY out of line. That was clear from the very first reporting of the incident on the local news channels and the interviews with reputable witnesses.

The morning paper here notes that the department will not discuss what "discipline" the cops were given. It might be a $1 fine or a month off duty. They're not saying.

The cops were out of line. The department needs to detail what punishment was handed out. These guys should be shamed before the city and their fellow officers.

Police state? Hardly. Stupid cops is all.

Maverick · « **Reply #3 on:** August 21, 2004, 09:09:56 AM »

Beetle,

Make out of it what you wish. You can exagerate all you want and generalize an entire nation's policy based on a stupid action of a couple goverment employees. Just as valid as saying all Brits have bad teeth and are girlie men since they cannot be trusted with firearms.

It is standard policy for a Department not to comment on disciplinary actions. It likely was a result of court actions earlier that cost the City / County / State when they made a public announcement of an internal personell matter.

These 2 were out of line on the taser, simple as that. At the same time the "granny" was out of line for making a public "fuss" or scene about a ticket. The adult thing would have been to accept the ticket then go fight it in court. Having been in a situation where an elderly person "went off their nut" over a traffic or other petty situation I can sympathise witht these officers. It's a lose lose situation and no matter what you do, you will be damned for it. It goes with the job and you can't let it get out of hand like this.

Stupid reaction on their part and it will cost them and their employers. Unfortunately we still have to draw Police Officers from the ranks of people with all their failings and foibles. Wouldn't it be nice if Police weren't people too? Oh I forgot, quite a few folks don't think they are anyhow.

Blooz · « **Reply #4 on:** August 21, 2004, 09:16:45 AM »

You have the freedom to resist arrest and assault police officers.

They have the freedom and duty to subdue you and arrest you.

I think the old couple are lucky they didn't get shot.

Toad · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2004, 10:08:09 AM »

The initial article. They went BACK to her home to ticket her for one toot of a horn.

They were stupid.

KC police investigate use of Taser on woman

Martlet · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2004, 10:13:10 AM »

They should have gunned her down. I'm sick of those darn horn misusers.

Dune · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2004, 10:36:54 AM »

Let me get this straight...Some old lady is laying on the horn to get Herb to hurry the **** up. Some cop gets tired of hearing it and writes her a $25 ticket. And she explodes and starts swinging her purse at them. They try to coral her and she continues to resist. While they are still trying to cuff her because she's lost her ****, Herb finally makes it down the stairs and jumps on one of their backs. At this point they lose their cool and taser her. An overreaction and two cops who should probably take a class in dealing with crazy old people.

Or do you think they just walked up and said, "Ma'am, here's your ticket and...." BBBZZZZZAAAAAAPPPPPPPP!!!!

hawker238 · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2004, 10:47:54 AM »

Sounds like Reno 911.

Toad · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2004, 10:54:19 AM »

You don't have it straight; read this report

There was no needl to TASER this woman.

SOB · « **Reply #10 on:** August 21, 2004, 11:31:52 AM »

They may have overreacted, but the old bat has zero sympathy from here. Now if only I could find a way to tazer unreasonable jerks over the phone, life would be good!

X2Lee · « **Reply #11 on:** August 21, 2004, 03:27:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by beet1e
Aha! Is this what they call "freedom" - in a Police state? Wonder what our friend T will have to say about this. I think it was in his back yard.

If I were the sherrif they would lose thier badges. We dont need cowardly cops with teenage attitudes

beet1e · « **Reply #12 on:** August 21, 2004, 03:38:40 PM »

Relax, guys! I was fishing for a

...but I hooked a

FWIW, I was just telling Tomato yesterday how polite the American cops were when they stopped me (4 times in 2 years, at the time of the nanny-knows-best 55mph speed limit). Two of those cops were almost apologising for the inconvenience!

These two in KC were probably just a couple of bad apples. But FFS - if they're going to taser people, the over 60s should be exempt. I'm no cardiologist, but something tells me that Granny could have been killed - what if she had had a pacemaker fitted? If she had died, this would have been acutely embarrassing for law enforcement.

SC-Sp00k · « **Reply #13 on:** August 21, 2004, 05:29:40 PM »

Taking a newspaper report on an incident as gospel is a little bit gullible isnt it? Particularly if you push it to the people as the truth of a situation that neither you, me or they were present at in the first place.

Its not uncommon for Police depts to keep quiet on the disciplinary procedures handed out to its officers....If any was warranted at all.

You people werent there. Your commenting on a situation you know little about is another example of the public perception of Police Officers enforced and decreed in trial by media.

7, 17 or 70, Police Officers are nobodys punching bags. Maybe they did go over the top and maybe Granny deserved it and more. I doubt the newspaper "source" is telling it all. Police dont go around in general Tazering people for the hell of it. Even the stupid ones.

If it went down as they said it did, the old woman was pain in the proverbials and a healthy dose of OC probably wouldnt be amiss either LOL.

rpm · « **Reply #14 on:** August 21, 2004, 06:14:13 PM »

My take on it is the officer that zapped her is "probably" a gung-ho Barney Fife newbie that sleeps with his gun and masterbates to the municipal code and city ordinance manuals.

The Tazer alone was bad enough, but did he have to shove his knee into her chest? Older people, especially women, are very susceptible to broken bones.

I may be mistaken, but are'nt they able to mail a traffic ticket, especially a non-moving violation? The department is wrong for not disclosing the punishment, it gives the appearance they are trying to hide something. This is a situation where honesty, openness and communication would be the better course to follow.

And for what it's worth, a few bad apples do not reflect the vast majority of good, well meaning peace officers and vice-versa.