Why is it that police have been tasering everyone for no reason lately? Do they assume they are above the law?

trooper3316

You have oversimplified your examples, making it difficult for me to give you a logical answer.

I am familiar with your grandma example, however. She was holding a knife and refused to set it down.

Getting stabbed with a knife from grandma hurts just as much as any other person with a knife. And leaving her alone was not an option, as she was a danger to herself.

I can tell you in the last three years, I have used the taser twice. They both will admit they deserved it.

TexasStar

Get your facts straight AND try to put yourself in a Policeman's place. Most of the time they are dealing with someone who is trying to hurt them, bite them, is on drugs, etc. Sometimes it takes several men to get control of a fighting thug bent on harming them or someone else if they can get away.
"Grandmothers sitting in wheelchairs..." ??? I think you've been reading comic books. I've never seen what you describe and I watch/read a LOT of news and videos about cops struggling with the bad guys/gals. I'm glad I don't have to deal with such people and have Police willing to brave them for me.

QBeing

Source please?

I have heard of none of these events happening, could hyperbole be raising its ugly head?

Crazyjester9

Do you have videos or any kind of proof that these incidents took place? Then can you prove that the officer did not face any disciplinary action?

cclover _

Hmm, I have never met an officer whom has tased a grandmother in a wheelchair or kids for that matter. I would however like to see a list of sources that will back up YOUR claim....

Todd B

Get a clue. They aren't tasing people who look at them the wrong way or grandmothers sitting in wheelchairs.
If they do it, I'm sure they have good reason. They can't just tase anyone they so choose.

yep

Do they assume they are above the law? Do you assume they don't? Look, "serve and protect" went out of vogue a long time ago, most of these clowns are simply serving their own selfish self-interests. Many are no better than the criminals they pretend to be after. Many judges are no better. They're government employees. I rest my case.

researcher

No they are not above the law. You would be surprised where they find drugs these days, I admire them I think they are finally getting out there and doing the work, they were intended to do. Do you reaslise if someone is smoking dope and you breathe it in, you might as well have smoked it, think about consequences. It is an ongoing battle drugs cause crime.It might be your relative who is affected, you wouldn't like it if nothing was done, would you. Look at the whole picture. Could you do there job?

Adam B

No, never. No one ever lost an election by being "tough on crime," even if "tough on crime" means assaulting people who haven't done anything.

The taser was only meant to be an instrument to subdue someone who was a threat to the officer or someone else. It's not meant to be an instrument of compliance, but that's what it's turned into. If a cop gives you an unlawful order while you are not under arrest, you are under no obligation to comply, and you can even just walk away. But the cops don't know / don't care about that, and they'll use the taser on your for failure to respond quickly enough, even if you pose no physical threat to anyone.

If we had highly educated people in the police force, we could reasonably expect them to use negotiation to convince people to settle down, and to understand the Constitutional protection against unreasonable search and seizure. But we mostly have high school graduates with IQs under 120 in the police, and so what we end up with is a bunch of former high school bullys who think it's OK to physically assault someone for not obeying anything the cop says. That's battery, that's illegal, and these people need to be imprisoned for their actions.

andimsexytoo

i think sometimes they do, but then again, i wouldnt want that job.

piegowdealer

1) Because they have a license to kill and that translates int :license" to do whatever they want. It's reverse plausible deniability. They have guidelines. As long as they can come up with some wonky rationalization to fit the guidelines they will do it.

2) Because DAs are more concerned with maintaining "crowd control" than with police brutality. They dont want to "undercut the authority of the police power." This attitude by the "prosecutor" side of public safety fosters this attitude.

3) When Citizens rise up and take to the streets in PEACEFUL protest, not mob violence, police departments adopt stricter guidelines, they weed out officers who get downright paranoid and act out their paranoia. Police chiefs suspend or terminate officers who press the limits of "reasonable" force. DAs actually prosecute these oficers.

Mr. Goodhi

They like the "power" feeling it gives them.

TURANDOT

They used to retire without ever firing their gun. having signed up to be like "RoboCop", ending up working like Chief Wigum

They won't retire without launching a taser. It makes them feel virile and potent

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