Originally posted by parker00
The first sentence tells you it's not all hearsay:
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.
Apparently someone in the investigation even thought they went to far if they disciplined them and changed department policy.
Sorry mate. but are we reading the same first sentence? It tells me 2 fifths of sweet bugger all. Discipline in the Police as with any institution of its type takes many forms. Examples include suspension, counselling (ie, youve been a very bad boy today, dont do it again), monetary penalties etc etc. For all that sentence tells me, they may have been given a slap on the wrist for over exuberance but could still have been technically correct on their use of force given the "actual" incident. Which I might add, at no point in either this discussion or related media attachments explains to me exactly what happened and why.
Les's hypothetical scenerio could well be true for all any of us know. The Police dept isnt going to discuss a matter in depth down to the nitty gritty prior to a prosecution case being enacted.
It pays for Granny to arc up and claim to be the dischanted innocent victim, particularly in your country where the threat of civil litigation is a Police officers nightmare and probably does far more harm than good to yourself and the everyday population around you. The one thing every media outlet loves is a jolly good victim.
Then again, it may be completely correct and thats how it went down with no extenuating circumstances which warrant disciplinary action.
However, like OC spray, the Tazer is a tool which can be employed upon the Police Officer themselves in training, so they know its capabilities and limitations. It would be a completely stupid act if unwarranted. Police officers are also aware of the consequences of excessive use of force (not saying it doesnt happen anyway) All this leads me to be skeptical that this has occurred without some details being missed out.
As for Granny honking the horn. If its legislation and she broke it, they have every right to follow it up. I personally wouldnt unless Granny was being a right pain in the proverbials on top of committing an otherwise minor traffic offence, but they have a duty and they are within their rights to act upon it.
Next time you may be the unwarranted victim of a minor offence. Lets see how loud you scream, when the Police officers attending, turn around and say, No jobs to small.....except this one..goodbye. Generally the general public cry a waste of Police resources until they themselves are involved.
At least you know where you stand with the crims, its everyday joe and jane, the neighbourhood citizens that tend to get up my nose at the first hint of victimisation.
