Author Topic: Taser use - Good or Bad? (Read 666 times)

EN4CER · « **on:** November 26, 2004, 11:53:48 AM »

MIAMI — Police have acknowledged using a stun gun to immobilize a 12-year-old girl just weeks after an officer jolted a first-grader with 50,000 volts. Police Director Bobby Parker defended the decision to use a Taser on the 6-year-old boy last month because he was threatening to injure himself with a shard of glass. But Parker said Friday that he could not defend the decision to shock the fleeing girl, who was skipping school and apparently drunk. According to the incident report, officer William Nelson responded to a complaint that children were swimming in a pool, drinking alcohol and smoking cigars on the morning of Nov. 5. Nelson said he noticed the girl was intoxicated and was walking her to his car to take her back to school when she ran away through a parking lot. Nelson, 38, said he chased her and yelled several times for her to stop before firing the Taser when she began to run into traffic. The electric probes hit the girl in the neck and lower back, immobilizing her. Nelson said he fired "for my safety along with (the girl's) safety." Paramedics treated the girl, who went home with her mother. Parker said department policy permits officers to use the Taser to apprehend someone, but he said he expected his officers to use better judgment, especially when police had no plans to arrest the girl. The first incident had already exposed the department to more criticism for its use of Tasers, which it has begun distributing in greater numbers to officers. The 6-year-old boy was shocked on Oct. 20 in the principal's office at Kelsey Pharr Elementary School. Principal Maria Mason called 911 after the child broke a picture frame in her office and waved a piece of glass, holding a security guard back. The boy had cut himself under his eye and on his hand when officers arrived. "The police could have handled this better," said the boy's mother, Kathy Rojas. "They did not have to shoot him." Parker said that, in light of the disclosure of the second incident, the department will review its policy. (Source: AP)

I've been following this story close. Hmmmm ..... I guess what Nelson should have done was let the girl go - run into traffic while she was intoxicated and possibly get hit by a car.

Dago · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2004, 11:58:14 AM »

A typical no-win for the cop. Taser her, keep her safe and having learned a lesson, you get crap and probably sued. Don't Taser her, she possibly gets hit by a car, you get crap and sued. No-win.

It's hardly a wonder some cops get bitter, many drink and fewer quality people want the job.

Luckily, some are still willing to do it, are willing to do their best and are there when we need them. (S) to those.

dago

Habu · « **Reply #2 on:** November 26, 2004, 12:07:39 PM »

Hey they are like new toys. Everyone wants to try them out. I am sure this sort of thing will stop once the novelty wears off.

Engine · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2004, 12:24:21 PM »

I support tasering more children.

mora · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2004, 01:18:46 PM »

If the officers story is correct, then he might have saved a life. However this case doesn't warrant it's regular use against drunk teens. What made her run in the first place?

Sox62 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 26, 2004, 01:27:59 PM »

Q:Why did the female cop Taser the six year old child?

A:She was out of pepper spray.

RTStuka · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2004, 01:44:53 PM »

Just another case of out of control kids, I mean christ this was a 12 year old girl who was skipping school and found in a pool drinking and smoking, and then she ran from the cops. I cant believe this is even an issue in this case and as far as the 6 year old, the kid had a piece of sharp glass and was threatning harm to himself and others. Then his **** up of a mother as the right to say "oh you could have just offered him a piece of candy" yeah cause thats gonna work when the kid is ready to slice himself. I am sure he is thinking rationally. The thing everyone misses is the face that in both situations the kids were put in control and the situation was put in to control and no one was injured, both kids came out fine.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 26, 2004, 02:16:10 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Engine
I support tasering more children.

In these two cases, I also support tazering the parents, just as an object lesson.

Sixpence · « **Reply #8 on:** November 26, 2004, 03:11:34 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dago
It's hardly a wonder some cops get bitter, many drink and fewer quality people want the job.

Are you kidding? Everyone wants that job, i'll take it if someone wants to give it up, and I wont taser a 6 year old.

vorticon · « **Reply #9 on:** November 26, 2004, 03:15:40 PM »

*shrug* what would he have done if he didnt have the taser...

SOB · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2004, 03:15:53 PM »

Everyone wants to be a cop?! I guess I'm not included in everyone.

mora · « **Reply #11 on:** November 26, 2004, 03:31:36 PM »

LOL, going to police academy and becoming a cop would be the ultimate prank! I don't think I would pass the psych though.

Pooh21 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 26, 2004, 04:06:28 PM »

I dont think everyone wants to be a cop.
They just want to taser people and get paid for it.

SOB · « **Reply #13 on:** November 26, 2004, 04:13:11 PM »

I'm not greedy, I'd taser people for free.

Elfie · « **Reply #14 on:** November 26, 2004, 04:22:39 PM »

I can understand using the tazer on the girl since she was running towards traffic. The 6 yr old boy otoh...no excuse for using a tazer on him. If the police officer in question cant overpower a 6 yr old w/o resorting to using a tazer they have no business being a police officer imo. The boy was in the prinicples office already, where was he going to run to?