lightarchitect
Active Member
disgusting!
The problem seems to be that it's not being used as a replacement for lethal force - it's being used as a crutch. Or worse, as a toy. I don't know how you could make police use the taser property. Seems like the technology itself makes it too easy for police to be lazy.It is true though, isn't it? When given the choice between using a traditional fire arm and a taser, I would much prefer the taser being used. But as you've suggested, that is not the issue here. The issue is the completely unnecessary (and apparently improper) use of the taser in this situation. It should only be used as a replacement for lethal force and not as a means for lazy police officers to quickly subdue an upset (but otherwise harmless) person.
-- Sir Robert Peel. (Man, when was the last time I've seen the police live up to these, rather than go political and power-mad?)Police Principles
1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder
2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions.
3. Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observation of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.
4. The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.
5. Police seek and preserve public favor not by catering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.
6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient.
7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.
8. Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions, and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.
9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.
Police Principles
1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder ...
"Gentlemen, get the thing straight once and for all — the policeman isn't there to create disorder, the policeman is there to preserve disorder."
- Richard J. Daley (father of current mayor)
1968 after the famous 'police riots' during the Democratic Convention
"You should have printed what he meant, not what he said."
- press aide to reporters
One story after another. It is as if no one has read about any of these prior tragedies in law enforcement, or are waiting for some threshold before suspending any further use of the taser.