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Chicago man dies after Taser hit by Ohio police - WITH VIDEO
chicagotribune.com — A Chicago man who was in critical condition for five days after police used a Taser to subdue him outside an Ohio bar died Thursday evening. Kevin Piskura, 24, was pronounced dead at 4:17 p.m. Chicago time of injuries suffered when police in Oxford, Ohio, fired the stun gun at him early Saturday morning.
dan360man- 1353 diggs
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- cmccool, on 04/25/2008, -12/+187from article: "The officer who fired the Taser has been put on paid administrative leave."
fire taser = vacation. awesome! /sarcasm- Zandarrr, on 04/25/2008, -12/+2I'm in Chicago right now. I should help the rest of the force get a cushy paid vacation.
- mwalker05, on 04/25/2008, -24/+13the guy was resisting officers and fighting with them. it was outside of a bar, meaning he was drunk. a taser was probably the right choice for the situation. i couldnt have sound turned on for the video but the guy was just rolling on the ground. if he was being tased that entire time then i would certainly blame the officer. if the taser was properly used then i dont see how you can possibly be mad at the cop for doing his job, nor do i see reason to put him on paid leave.
- jaydoj, on 04/25/2008, -3/+34go ahead and try the video with sound....you may hear a clicking. Thats the sound of an awful lot of electricity flowing. From what heard, he tells him to stay on the ground, and continues to use the taser in 10-15 second bursts. I'd say it's a bit excessive for a couple reasons, one the guy was in the fetal position from the taser, and two, he's drunk, you hit him with enough electricity and he's just going to stay down.
- dexter411, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1"Correction: The video of a TaserCam recording that accompanies this story has been corrected from an earlier version that appeared on the site. That original video, provided by CNN, gave the impression that the tasering lasted the entire 52 seconds of the record. In fact, it was a clip repeated in a continuous loop. The Tribune regrets the error."
- blakeage, on 04/25/2008, -2/+23That was definitely excessive force. It should be used for nothing but getting the guy to the ground.
- 0011002, on 04/25/2008, -3/+22For most of the video he was being tased and they kept telling him to get on the ground. Now I agree with you that it sounds like the appropriate situation but it was used incorrectly. Once he was on the ground he should have been cuffed not continually tased. I had a job for 2 years as casino security and have worked closely with the cops of the Biloxi area so I can understand how a taser would greatly help them take deescalate a situation but the problem is so many cops are on power trips or just plan don't understand that a taser can be deadly. They respect their guns more because it's most likely lethal and they disrespect the taser in that same since because it's less likely lethal. The taser should carry the same rule as guns that if you use it on someone you will have to fill out several reports explaining why and in cases where it's lethal they should be investigated to see if it was used inappropriately or if it was misused out of bad training and then punish the appropriate person.
- McGuinness, on 04/25/2008, -9/+33mwalker I'm sorry but you're an idiot. Tasers are all too often used for COMPLIANCE DEVICES when they're supposed to be used in place of guns. The whole point of a taser, and the original justification for officers carrying them was in essence to not have to SHOOT SOMEONE. You're only supposed to use them when your life is threatened. You can argue with me all you want, but I lived with a police officer for years and I know this for a fact.
Police Officers mostly have an authority or 'god' complex. So if you challenge them they tend to blow their temper. A sort of "HOW DARE YOU", so they get pissed and whip out these tasers to get you to do everything they say. Exactly what they SHOULDNT be used for.- DogHumpsMonkey, on 04/25/2008, -9/+3Tasers were never intended to be used in place of a firearm, they were intended to be used in place of a baton, and it was absolutely intended to be an instrument of compliance. And they are still considered a lower level of force than a baton, with good reason.
- Chompy, on 04/25/2008, -3/+2Sorry Dog, there is little point in posting a comment in one of these threads unless your comment can be interpreted as anti-cop. Nobody's listening.
- thingnumber2, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2I agree with the first paragraph, thoug it's unfair to generalize police officers as mostly having a "god complex"
- DogHumpsMonkey, on 04/25/2008, -9/+3Tasers were never intended to be used in place of a firearm, they were intended to be used in place of a baton, and it was absolutely intended to be an instrument of compliance. And they are still considered a lower level of force than a baton, with good reason.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -4/+14How is using a taser to forcibly subdue someone drinking doing your job? If they're drunk then they probably have all kinds of ***** going on with their heart rate and blood pressure. Shocking the ***** out of them might do some damage.
- 0011002, on 04/25/2008, -0/+12Being in Security at a casino I can say that someone who is drunk can be a big risk to himself, those around him in the area, and the officers tring to stop him. A taser would allow for two officers or even one to get the man on the ground safely and quickly. I've seen it take 5 cops to subdue a drunk man smaller than them because of how much he fought them. Also the person who is drunk is far more likely to hurt himself in the scuffle than if a taser is used right. That being said the video shows to me a taser not being used properly and I do think either the cop in question should either be punished or his trainer should be. Like my above comment many cops do not respect the taser as they would respect the gun and that should change if they are to continue being allowed to use tasers.
- republicker, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6Its not like these cops care about all that. Cops can shoot unarmed people 50 times in the street in this country and get off scott free.
- eddy23170, on 04/25/2008, -3/+8Years and years ago, when I was a boy, when there were wolves in Wales, and birds the color of red-flannel petticoats whisked past the harp-shaped hills, when we sang and wallowed all night and day in caves that smelt like Sunday afternoons in damp front farmhouse parlors, and we chased, with the jawbones of deacons, the English and the bears, before the motor car, before the wheel, before the duchess-faced horse, when we rode the daft and happy hills bareback, it snowed and it snowed. But here a small boy says: "It snowed last year, too. I made a snowman and my brother knocked it down and I knocked my brother down and then we had tea." and I didn't get tased because policeman knew their jobs were inherently difficult or they would not have signed up in the first place...
- talonstriker, on 04/25/2008, -2/+7"the guy was just rolling on the ground. if he was being tased that entire time then i would certainly blame the officer. "
Look at the video again. You can see the jolts even when the guy was rolling on the ground. - LeeSoong, on 04/26/2008, -0/+15 days? He would have died a lot faster if he was hit with three or four 9mm rounds from a policeman's glock...
- jaydoj, on 04/25/2008, -3/+34go ahead and try the video with sound....you may hear a clicking. Thats the sound of an awful lot of electricity flowing. From what heard, he tells him to stay on the ground, and continues to use the taser in 10-15 second bursts. I'd say it's a bit excessive for a couple reasons, one the guy was in the fetal position from the taser, and two, he's drunk, you hit him with enough electricity and he's just going to stay down.
- RealmDown, on 04/25/2008, -3/+31I think that all pay in situations like this should be placed in escrow. The officer receives it only when he is found to have acted correctly.
"Paid administrative leave" should be viewed as something to be avoided.- mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -4/+9I'm talking about any case not necessary this one. What if the investigation takes a year to conclude and the officer is found in the right. How is he suppose to feed his family for a year with no pay?
- qwertydvorak, on 04/25/2008, -1/+17how is the dead guy going to feed his family for years without pay.
- mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3"I'm talking about any case not necessary this one"
Not all Investigations are because someone died. - mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -2/+1Make it negative and the diggs will come.
- lotu, on 04/26/2008, -0/+2Cannibalism.
- mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3"I'm talking about any case not necessary this one"
- qwertydvorak, on 04/25/2008, -1/+17how is the dead guy going to feed his family for years without pay.
- mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2"Paid administrative leave" should be viewed as something to be avoided"
I'm sure cops feel the same way, But guess what in that line of work its "Unavoidable"- smotpoker, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1In what way is it even remotely "unavoidable"? Those cops are free to find other work while they're awaiting investigation/trial - which is a lot more than can be said for most of the people they unjustly beat or arrest who are incapable of providing due to incarceration or injury
- mal1964, on 04/26/2008, -1/+1I live in the real world so arguing with you is useless.
- smotpoker, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1Right... the "real" world where people who are supposed to uphold the law are allowed to be allowed to continue sapping tax dollars when there is credible evidence they have broken it (despite the fact anyone else would have not only lost their job outright but been completely unable to pursue another one in most cases and would definitely be convicted on the same evidence)
- smotpoker, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1In what way is it even remotely "unavoidable"? Those cops are free to find other work while they're awaiting investigation/trial - which is a lot more than can be said for most of the people they unjustly beat or arrest who are incapable of providing due to incarceration or injury
- mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -4/+9I'm talking about any case not necessary this one. What if the investigation takes a year to conclude and the officer is found in the right. How is he suppose to feed his family for a year with no pay?
- McGuinness, on 04/25/2008, -17/+10In my opinion, if you repeatedly apply electricity to someone to the point where they DIE. We should give you the ELECTRIC CHAIR.
EXECUTE this ***** cop.- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -8/+4I'm digging you up because your partially right, except that an electric chair is too fast, the guy was in critical condition for four days
To everyone digging him down-how would you want to react if you were tasered and in hospital suffering a slow death- smotpoker, on 04/26/2008, -1/+2Not everyone is as vindictive as you (or most of American society).
Personally, I don't run around seeking revenge and trying to make anyone suffer when I am wronged. Rather, I try to analyze the situation and change the conditions that facilitated their action(s) to prevent repetition. Capital punishment doesn't deter many people more than other forms of severe punishment
- smotpoker, on 04/26/2008, -1/+2Not everyone is as vindictive as you (or most of American society).
- Fozefy, on 04/26/2008, -1/+2An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.
- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -8/+4I'm digging you up because your partially right, except that an electric chair is too fast, the guy was in critical condition for four days
- dexter411, on 04/25/2008, -10/+13I think we should reserve judgment on this until we actually find out what he died from.
- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -12/+15He died from being tasered and probably heart problems due the the mass amount of volts passing through him you stupid *****, i doubt he got another condition from being fine when he left the pub to being tasered, the timescale is way too short for something else to suddenly jump in and cause it.
The guy got tasered and now he's stone dead, taser's are working as intended and safe to use i guess /sarcasm- Gamer2k4, on 04/25/2008, -4/+9My guess would be heart problems PRIOR to getting tasered.
- CobaltBlue, on 04/25/2008, -2/+9You are really calling someone a "stupid *****" because they want to reserve judgment?
- dexter411, on 04/26/2008, -0/+2"He died from being tasered and probably heart problems due the the mass amount of volts passing through him you stupid *****,"
I'd say a stupid ***** is one who believes volts "pass" through anything. Voltage doesn't kill people, current kills people.
// end elementary lesson in electricity
- DrDash, on 04/25/2008, -4/+5Most taser deaths are atributted to drugs in the sytem as well, things that speed up the heart then the added electric current = bad things.
- nominalgeek, on 04/25/2008, -8/+5But in this case, he was clearly drunk... the pig...erm police officer should have known how to correct apply the use of a taser to a heavily intoxicated person.
- republicker, on 04/25/2008, -2/+4I put my money on cancer.
- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -12/+15He died from being tasered and probably heart problems due the the mass amount of volts passing through him you stupid *****, i doubt he got another condition from being fine when he left the pub to being tasered, the timescale is way too short for something else to suddenly jump in and cause it.
- ByteGuerilla, on 04/25/2008, -5/+5These things are being rolled out to police in the UK now. You would think the record of danger they've shown in the U.S. would have influenced the decision to give them to our cops. Who knows, maybe it did o_O
I'm getting out of Britain ASAP.- Myonosken, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5UK police have had them for 8 years. The difference is, our police have to have far more training to be an officer, far more training to be given a taser and know there are serious consequences for unfair usage.
As a result of this, they're rarely used and only in serious situations where some countries would use pistols.- nominalgeek, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2It's also the difference here, in the states that we're a larger county with many levels of local, state and national government. The federal government can't control standards on state and local levels for this stuff, and also sheriff offices aren't trained officers but politically appointed/elected people. Not all areas of levels of police forces have the same training, and Ohio isn't one of the best places in the US.
- lunacite, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3"I'm getting out of Britain ASAP."
Maybe you should just be compliant when dealing with Police Officers - smotpoker, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1...OR RISK DEATH!@#! MWAHAHAHA!#!!@#!
- lunacite, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3"I'm getting out of Britain ASAP."
- nominalgeek, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2It's also the difference here, in the states that we're a larger county with many levels of local, state and national government. The federal government can't control standards on state and local levels for this stuff, and also sheriff offices aren't trained officers but politically appointed/elected people. Not all areas of levels of police forces have the same training, and Ohio isn't one of the best places in the US.
- Myonosken, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5UK police have had them for 8 years. The difference is, our police have to have far more training to be an officer, far more training to be given a taser and know there are serious consequences for unfair usage.
- Gamer2k4, on 04/25/2008, -3/+4The real problem is that idiots like these cops make tasers and police in general both look bad, despite the fact that most police are nothing like them and most taser use is safe and effective.
- infinityofnever, on 04/25/2008, -8/+7I have more sympathy for the cop than the guy. You won't get tased if you don't ignore warnings to STOP fighting against a cop.
- cawpin, on 04/25/2008, -3/+8Also FTA: "According to police, Piskura was fighting with an officer and ignored warnings to stop."
Don't fight with police.- 14justice, on 04/25/2008, -2/+4Perhaps we should look for a report of the incident that comes from civilian witnesses rather than the police.
These reports are always: "According to police..." or "Police reported... " etc., etc. One would think that our "independent" journalists could find someone else to interview about such an incident, someone who had no built-in incentive to make themselves look good by lying or exaggerating.- mikesbaker, on 04/26/2008, -4/+2right the cops went up to a bar picked a random guy and tased him. how stupid are you?
- smotpoker, on 04/26/2008, -1/+3Not too stupid to realize most altercations/conflicts have nothing to do with randomness and more to do with pre-existing biases of some sort and wanting to "prove" something in a stupid way.
Even with police lots of problems start with perceived disrespect and challenging each other to do x, y or z. As soon as a conflict starts with many people, they begin looking for an excuse to use force with someone they assume is a scumbag to "teach them a lesson".
Usually such problems are resolved pretty quick and, even if they make it to court, don't result in serious physical harm but sometimes... they DO get out of hand; this is likely one of them- mikesbaker, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1right let me know how that theory works out for you next time you get aggressive with a cop. anyone who gets tazed is lucky they didn't get shot. and getting shot is a lot lot worse than getting tased
- 14justice, on 04/25/2008, -2/+4Perhaps we should look for a report of the incident that comes from civilian witnesses rather than the police.
- saphyrre, on 04/25/2008, -6/+3I would love to kill people and get a paid vacation. Time for me to join the force..
- NikoKun, on 04/25/2008, -1/+5Tasers are NOT non-lethal weapons... We need to get that message out!
- brianara3, on 04/25/2008, -4/+1Until used incorrectly.... If you zap somebody 5-6+ times, it can kill.
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1which (only according to this video) didn't happen. He was tazed once for less than ten seconds (time it) Who knows why he died, but we can't arm the cops with only nice words because some completly random accident happens.
- brianara3, on 04/25/2008, -4/+1Until used incorrectly.... If you zap somebody 5-6+ times, it can kill.
- brad3378, on 04/26/2008, -3/+2Don't tase my portfolio bro!
http://finance.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:TASR
Seriously though - check out the way this stock has plunged since October. - wickensworth, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1I have reason to believe the officer who fired the Taser was the Blair Witch
- Ashany, on 04/25/2008, -17/+51Actually isn't it more like:
Get poor training = fire taser = kill someone = paid vacation!
more awesome /sarcasm- horatiolust, on 04/25/2008, -8/+2Poor training = use taser
Good training = 2 to the head
No more problem - monoa, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5I wonder how many people will need to die from being electrocuted / tortured before there are more people saying "enough" instead of "***** happens"?
- Jagdhund, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3A vast amount of cases that would show that tasers are generally unsafe and not just unsafe in the hands of a poorly trained and overly aggressive officer. "Enough" won't happen simply because tasers are safer than beating someone with a baton. Please stop making such asinine comments.
- svtspeed, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1Actually its more like:
Get poor training + fire taser ÷ kill someone = paid vacation! - jaymzdean, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1It's like when the U.S. soldiers in Iraq are told they will get a 4 day leave if their first kill is with a knife, civilians be damned.
- mikesbaker, on 04/26/2008, -2/+2how ***** hard is it to use the reply button?
- horatiolust, on 04/25/2008, -8/+2Poor training = use taser
- storm8956, on 04/25/2008, -12/+114I have a friend down in Oxford who told me that the officer was a former linebacker and could have subdued the guy without the use of the taser if he wanted to. You would think police departments would be questioning the use of such a device when stuff like this happens. How many more people will be needlessly killed before they figure out that use of a potentially lethal device to confront minor disturbances is just plain stupid?
Imagine if the guy in Florida had died, right in front of John Kerry and a bunch of people with cell phone cameras. Unfortunately, it may take something like that to get people nationwide to really think seriously about the issue.- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -27/+37Officers are under no obligation to intentionally put themselves into harm's way by physically confronting someone like that. Cops don't know if someone is drunk or on drugs -- both of which have the potential for making a physical confrontation dangerous for the cop -- therefore making size irrelevant. It's obvious that you have absolutely no idea what happens during a confrontation and what cops face every shift, every day.
How about this...I think you should go down to your local PD and ask to get into their ride-along program. Then you can get a better appreciation for how difficult arresting someone who is resisting can be.- storm8956, on 04/25/2008, -12/+35I don't really understand your hostility toward my comment. I think that for a cop to use physical strength to over power a person in such a situation, which it sounds like he could have, makes more sense than to use a device that is potentially lethal. Let us be reminded that this would not be the first person to die from the use of a taser, if that is indeed what occurred (in reference to your other comment below).
I never said anything about the obligation of the officer. For the most part, he did what he was trained to do, from what it sounded like, yelling "Taser! Taser! Taser!" before the discharge. Police departments need to rethink their usage of the device, plain and simple. People don't need to die from confrontations in a bar. If a person is not a position to put anyone's life at risk, I would think it would be better for people to suffer some scrapes or bruises than to risk losing the life of that person in the end.- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -14/+18thats because you didn't read what he said. There was no hostility in his comment.
The fact that him being an ex-linebacker makes no difference when drugs come into play. You get someone strung out on cocaine or some such thing and they can do stuff that their bodies shouldn't be able to do at all. And could seriously injure the officer.
The solution is both better training for the officers and people not being completely ***** ignorant to the law, if you resist a cop, you can expect to be tasered or tackled, either of which could potentially kill you.- lunacite, on 04/25/2008, -2/+7They also have no idea what concealed weapon this guy may have had, there are plenty of sharp implements that can be quickly and easily produced in that kind of range
- thcobbs, on 04/25/2008, -5/+14Anything used to subdue another human is potentially lethal.
- NoCt1, on 04/25/2008, -8/+8They have been subduing people for how many years before tasers? I think people just get lazy..
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3Yes, they have been...with pepper spray, batons, and fists. In every case, some people die or are severely injured, including cops. Nothing is 100% safe when officers are trying to arrest someone who is violently resisting. TASERs are non-lethal - no deaths have been directly tied to their use.
As far as your "lazy" comment is concerned, that's a slam against every law enforcement professional out there every day protecting people, including your sorry rear end. If you think they are "lazy" by using a TASER, then I suggest you take your brave soul through a police academy and get out there on the street to show how un-lazy you are and take on crazed, drugged out, drunk, or just plain mean folks who don't want to go to jail with just a mean face, harsh words, and your hands.
Then, get back to us and let us know how you showed up all those other "lazy" cops.
You people who 2nd guess these heroes make me sick.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3Yes, they have been...with pepper spray, batons, and fists. In every case, some people die or are severely injured, including cops. Nothing is 100% safe when officers are trying to arrest someone who is violently resisting. TASERs are non-lethal - no deaths have been directly tied to their use.
- brianara3, on 04/25/2008, -2/+6@NoCt1: They have also suffered how many deaths/injuries before tasers due to physical confrontations?
- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -14/+18thats because you didn't read what he said. There was no hostility in his comment.
- dmallymally, on 04/25/2008, -6/+17well they should be. I mean they did sign up to be a cop. To serve and protect the people, not themselves
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -3/+2That comment is so patently short-sighted and uncalled for it hardly deserves a response. That is THE most selfish, self-centered, "I don't give a ***** about anyone", idiotic comment I have EVER read on Digg, and trust me I've read a load.
I hope you never need a cop. You make me want to puke. - gtsoundcrew, on 04/26/2008, -1/+1Thats why he's being dugg up right. FTP!!
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -3/+2That comment is so patently short-sighted and uncalled for it hardly deserves a response. That is THE most selfish, self-centered, "I don't give a ***** about anyone", idiotic comment I have EVER read on Digg, and trust me I've read a load.
- blakeage, on 04/25/2008, -2/+37Maybe size is not relevant, but the fact that the officer is standing and in control, yet still tasering him like a dog, is just bad judgement.
- stubear, on 04/25/2008, -13/+1The video is looped. There is no way to tell how many times he was tasered but you can only see one sustained shot before the video runs through again (I think it went through three times).
- FeloniusMonkey, on 04/25/2008, -2/+12Well put. You don't even have to watch the whole video to plainly see this was an outright abuse of power.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Don't judge until you've tried to arrest someone who didn't want to be arrested.
- CajunDigg, on 04/25/2008, -6/+11It is unbelievable to read the comments re your statement. Obviously these people have NO clue about the potential danger a cop OF ANY SIZE faces when physically confronting a person. A Taser may be the most humane recent law enforcement device issued. It has saved many a criminal from a bullet.
- sqwirl, on 04/25/2008, -2/+5Actually, I rarely see footage of a taser being used where a gun would have been used in its place.
- MrObjectional, on 04/25/2008, -2/+6Yeah, if a cop had shot someone lying in the ground, a lot more people would be outraged. Tasers are deadly force, and using them when a person is no longer a threat is inappropriate.
- brianara3, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2@sqwirl: Because you only see footage from confrontations where tasers went wrong (ie. someone died or it was missused) There are many documented cases of a person with a knife being tasered and arrested without endangering the officer.
@MrObjectional: Exactly - CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Thanks, man. I appreciate the support.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -6/+16I disagree with that 100%. We pay them to put themselves in harms way, not just to take the easy way out.
- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3Exactly, soon a cop will have a dead battery and a citizen will have to save him.
- Galume, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3We don't pay them that much my friend...
- sodade, on 04/25/2008, -2/+4I agree and think that we should be paying them 2x what they make now. Weed out the assholes, and thin the force down by 50% while making sure that you are hiring boyscouts only. Easy to afford if we quit treating drug use as a criminal problem rather than a health problem.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3We pay them to put them into harm's way...but do we expect them to get injured or die without protecting themselves?
You make me sick too.
- eternal464, on 04/25/2008, -7/+10finally, someone with some intelligence.
Police Departments across the country have adopted tasers to avoid physical confrontations. You want him to wrestle with the guy? Maybe you should let the people that know what they're talking about do their job, theres a reason nearly every single department in the country uses these, and it has nothing to with laziness.- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -5/+3We've tried letting governments "do their jobs" and we have seen nothing but thousands of years of oppression and murder. The less "tools" and power they have the better.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -6/+1The people have the power genius. WE tell them what to do and how to do it. They serve us in case you've forgotten. Get your head out of your ass and demand your freedom back. Freedom to be treated with dignity and respect. Freedom to not be intimidated by a dumb ass with a badge. Freedom to not have to present identification and give your name when questioned by the police. Freedom.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Thanks for the support.
- XBSHX, on 04/25/2008, -5/+6They signed up to be a cop, they know what they're getting themselves into. What did they do before tasers? They restrained the guy. I never heard any stories of people being killed just from being restrained. Electricity + humans is never a good idea.
- creole, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3There's been plenty of stories where someone died, or was seriously injured, because an office put a knee on their chest or back. Cracked ribs, bruised spleens, etc.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -5/+1Exactly, police officers have been douche bags since we created them. Just goes to show that a pig will find a way to ***** you up regardless of what tools he has available to it.
- lacronicus, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1You do realize that the job of a police officer is to deal with citizens who break the law, right? What do you expect them to do, give them a goddamn cookie? If a criminal is resisting arrest, he obviously isn't going in without a fight, which is where police come in. If you follow that train of thought, we effectively pay them to *be* douche-bags to people who resist arrest, just like you hire managers to keep their employees in line, or hire soldiers to fight other countries. That's the nature of their job, and it's a job society would be far worse off without.
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5Plenty of people died from being restrained. Tazers are still safer than physical confrontation for ALL involved. Have people died from tazers? Yes. Are they being misused sometimes? Yes. Departments are looking into how to reduce these incidents, but they are still safer.
- SelfArchitect, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0"I never heard any stories of people being killed just from being restrained."
Anthony Baez comes to mind. - oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -2/+1Cops will kill you with their bare hands. Why do we need to give them creative hi-tech ways of doing it?
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Oldhick, it's obvious you have issues, need some serious psych drugs and mental help.
- creole, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3There's been plenty of stories where someone died, or was seriously injured, because an office put a knee on their chest or back. Cracked ribs, bruised spleens, etc.
- munawarali2, on 04/25/2008, -6/+12I'm sorry, the job of a police officer is to protect the citizenry, regardless how drugged up or screwed up that citizenry is. Guns, Tasers and sticks should be the last line of defence, not the first.
I'm not making light of the dangers in the job, but if the job is too dangerous, don't do it, or call backup or whatever.- logan074, on 04/25/2008, -2/+7I view it as them protecting the citizens who are smart enough to not get drugged up and fight with the police. I have no desire to meet some angy drunk downtown, if you want to get drunk or high and fight with the cops you deserve evry volt.
- thecatcantalk, on 04/25/2008, -9/+7And I have no way of knowing if the "policeman" pulling me over is really a cop, since used police cars, lights, sirens, and police uniforms are for sale all over the Internet and in the ordinary marketplace. Following the line of reasoning you've employed, It would be OK for me to assume the "cop" is actually a serial killer, and gun him down on the side of the highway. *****.
Australian cops, Canadian cops, and British cops don't have this problem with accidentally killing prisoners all the time. What the ***** is our excuse?- lacronicus, on 04/26/2008, -1/+2It's perfectly legal to ask for the officers badge, and request that another officer act as a witness. Just because you don't know your rights doesn't mean you don't have them.
- skinny01, on 04/26/2008, -1/+2Unless you're in one of those situations where asking for those things with no other witnesses would get you a baton across the teeth and then arrested for resisting arrest or depending on the officer, you end up dead in an alley because it was dark and they "thought you had a gun".
- lacronicus, on 04/26/2008, -1/+2It's perfectly legal to ask for the officers badge, and request that another officer act as a witness. Just because you don't know your rights doesn't mean you don't have them.
- Gigs, on 04/25/2008, -4/+10So before they had tasers, was it more appropriate to shoot a guy in the kneecap to avoid wrestling -- in case he was on drugs? Tasers are potentially just as deadly as guns, apparently. You know what isn't deadly? Cop's staying in good physical shape and using teamwork and restraining tools (cuffs, etc.). I'm not saying the kid didn't make a bad decision, but the fact is, they (tasers and those who choose them) killed him for it. Excellent. /sarcasm
- JedicodeWarrior, on 04/25/2008, -4/+8Tasers make for lazy cops!! I agree they have there place in law enforcement. But taking the life of an unarmed civilian should never be part of the equation. When evaluating the death of a person during the course of an altercation, since when is that person's death an acceptable outcome? I'm sure CaptainAmerica1 loves to run around like Rambo w/o a jock strap, but we're seeing too many people getting tased because of refusing to sign a ticket, talking over the cop or other reasons where the cop's safety is in no immediate danger. If you don't have the temperment for the trade, there's always barber college.
- storm8956, on 04/25/2008, -12/+35I don't really understand your hostility toward my comment. I think that for a cop to use physical strength to over power a person in such a situation, which it sounds like he could have, makes more sense than to use a device that is potentially lethal. Let us be reminded that this would not be the first person to die from the use of a taser, if that is indeed what occurred (in reference to your other comment below).
- JointVenture, on 04/25/2008, -18/+9You see heres the problem, people seem to think that when cops arrest someone its supposed to be a FAIR FIGHT. Wrong, police are not obligated to arrest someone according to queens rules.
They are not obligated to receive ANY injuries when arresting people.- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -4/+4They are supposed to protect and serve, not annihilate someone with a stun gun for being drunk and disorderly, oh and we are not obligated to die a slow death if we dont want to be arrested
Suffice to say, if i saw this happening to someone i'd go fetch a crowbar and beat the ***** out of the arresting cop, hopefully he dies too- SpasticThinker, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4Only a small percentage of people hit with a stun gun actually die, usually from pre-existing health conditions. As far as you being obligated to die while resisting arrest, you're not obligated to do something that would get you arrested either - if you choose to do so, you risk the taser/baton/fist/etc. So, if you don't want to be tasered/beaten...you might want to avoid breaking the law.
Judging by the intelligence of your comments I'm going to assume you are about 14 years old. So I'm thinking that you probably can't beat the ***** out of anything, much less an average cop. Please continue being an internet tough guy though, if that's what does it for you. - lacronicus, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1They are supposed to protect and server *law abiding citizens*. Once you begin to resist arrest, you lose your status as a law abiding citizen, and become what cops are supposed to *protect* against.
- SpasticThinker, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4Only a small percentage of people hit with a stun gun actually die, usually from pre-existing health conditions. As far as you being obligated to die while resisting arrest, you're not obligated to do something that would get you arrested either - if you choose to do so, you risk the taser/baton/fist/etc. So, if you don't want to be tasered/beaten...you might want to avoid breaking the law.
- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -4/+4They are supposed to protect and serve, not annihilate someone with a stun gun for being drunk and disorderly, oh and we are not obligated to die a slow death if we dont want to be arrested
- mwalker05, on 04/25/2008, -12/+18if the officer was the size of a line backer and instead used brute force, the would have been complaints of police brutality followed by "why didnt you use a non lethal form to subdue him, such as a taser." the fact remains that had the guy not been being a drunken ***** fighting with police officers he would still be alive.
- DrDash, on 04/25/2008, -2/+6Thank you for being reasonable, it rare. I agree 100% with you. Basically the way officers are seen anymore, its a no win for them. Taser them and its your fault, use physical means and you are beating them, use a nightstick and it ends up on Youtube, shoot them and you went to far, let them go and you are not protecting the citizens. I would love for everyone complaining to come up with a NON lethal (100% of the time) way to stop someone who is disobeying!
- jaytek13, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1Why does it have to be 100% of the time? These tasers are being used maliciously. A drunk person can just as easily be taken out with a thing of mace.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Go try it sometime, tough guy.
- acknotSW, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4People have died from mace also
- logan074, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5Jaytek: I have seen drunk people get maced and if you are drunk enough you don't even notice it.
- elliottjgriffin, on 04/26/2008, -3/+2These are stupid anecdotal nuggets. Use real facts. Here's one: a human being is dead for having a lapse in judgment and being drunk and disorderly. Here's an opinion: No one deserves to die for this. This man should be alive today; he should have a future. The agents of his govt killed him, and yes it wasn't the intent, but there is nothing nonlethal about tasers. They kill. He is dead. He should've been maced or physically subdued...as for the safety of the police officers: they wear bullet proof vests sometimes and always carry a gun. When have I done that? When could I do that? They're pretty ***** safe. Now do your job without killing us.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1If TASERs kill and are lethal, please show me where all people who have been TASED died. Please...show me...I'm waiting. Bottom line, you can't because you're wrong and woefully ignorant about this topic.
- jaytek13, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1Why does it have to be 100% of the time? These tasers are being used maliciously. A drunk person can just as easily be taken out with a thing of mace.
- DrDash, on 04/25/2008, -2/+6Thank you for being reasonable, it rare. I agree 100% with you. Basically the way officers are seen anymore, its a no win for them. Taser them and its your fault, use physical means and you are beating them, use a nightstick and it ends up on Youtube, shoot them and you went to far, let them go and you are not protecting the citizens. I would love for everyone complaining to come up with a NON lethal (100% of the time) way to stop someone who is disobeying!
- bravo369, on 04/25/2008, -5/+10I can somewhat understand using a taser in a one-on-one confrontation but the Florida student you mentioned was completely wrong. I don't understand why a taser has to be used in any situation in which 5 cops are subduing 1 person. you telling me 5 cops can't arrest a guy that's already on the floor without tasering him? if that's the case then it's amazing ANYONE was arrested up until a few years ago.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -3/+4Dude, they can't get their uni's dirty!! What are you thinking?
- JedicodeWarrior, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5I'm sure the cops have a "gag" real of all their tasings. They review from time to time and have a big laugh.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Yeah, they set up a projector at the local Dunkin' Donuts, invite all their cop buddies, and do nothing but laugh, scarf donuts, drink coffee and ignore 911 calls all shift.
Come on...just stop the hating.
p.s. Learn how to write a sentence and learn the difference between "real" and "reel."
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Yeah, they set up a projector at the local Dunkin' Donuts, invite all their cop buddies, and do nothing but laugh, scarf donuts, drink coffee and ignore 911 calls all shift.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -9/+12The assumption that the cops shouldn't risk their lives or should be able to use whatever force necessary to avoid hurting themselves in fundamentally ridiculous. If that was the case then we could all just go out with tasers or shotguns and arrest people ourselves. We pay the uneducated nitwits TO put themselves into harms way. We pay them TO protect and TO serve.
How is killing a guy who's only crime was being drunk protecting or serving?- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5It aint, the cops are being turned into armed wimps
- akamurph, on 04/25/2008, -6/+4Your ignorance is awesome... my brother is a cop - he has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree so um your whole uneducated thing goes out the window (albeit with any job you're going to have dimwits). Do as CaptainAmerica suggested and go on a ride-along some weekend night in a somewhat decent sized city and see what ***** they put up with every night.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -5/+2I've been on ride-along's and i've lived in all size cities. One of my best childhood friends is a cop and I still hang out with him and his cop buddies. They are ignorant, self-righteous, authority craving douches. So why do I still hang out with them, because I respect my childhood friendships and I believe in the theory of keeping your enemies closer.
Of course I'm generalizing which is a bad idea. I'm sure there are a few decent cops who understand how to protect and serve a community, to stand up against other officers and do whats right, they are just incredibly rare. Even if one great cop knows another cop ***** up, they won't say *****. I have NO love for the police and no respect for the increasing amounts of authority that we give our government and our police.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -5/+2I've been on ride-along's and i've lived in all size cities. One of my best childhood friends is a cop and I still hang out with him and his cop buddies. They are ignorant, self-righteous, authority craving douches. So why do I still hang out with them, because I respect my childhood friendships and I believe in the theory of keeping your enemies closer.
- SpasticThinker, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6They didn't taser him for "just being drunk", they tasered him for resisting arrest. There is somewhat of a difference between the two, if perhaps you missed the nuance.
- pinchduck, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5Your right, they cops should have let him drive home drunk and pissed off. Would you feel differently if he had slammed head on into your family with his vehicle? Arresting a drunk and disorderly person is protecting and serving. They were serving the community and protecting everyone else that could have been harmed by this guy in some way.
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1To each his own.
- Apophis574, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Don't ever call the police when you need them then. You will be the biggest ***** hypocrite ever if you do.
- mike17032, on 04/25/2008, -8/+3Hate to burst your bubble, but slamming someone to the ground can kill them too.
And why should the cop have to risk his own ass?
The story also doesnt say it was the taser that killed him.- Herostratus, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3Because thats what we pay him to do....
- dk911, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3You don't pay very well. Maybe if you paid more for them to put their ass on the line for you they'd do just that. But when the average cop's salary is $41,000 it's kinda hard to justify just getting down and dirty instead of trying to save your own ass.
http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-polic ...
So, before you assume that he's making $500,000 a year for protecting your dumb ass... get a ***** clue and realize that they are doing so on almost minimum wage.- Herostratus, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2I know a lot of people who would like to make 40k a year...
- dk911, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3You don't pay very well. Maybe if you paid more for them to put their ass on the line for you they'd do just that. But when the average cop's salary is $41,000 it's kinda hard to justify just getting down and dirty instead of trying to save your own ass.
- elliottjgriffin, on 04/26/2008, -1/+1Because that's his job... Gee, that one was a mindbender.
- Herostratus, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3Because thats what we pay him to do....
- pinchduck, on 04/25/2008, -2/+6So you heard from this guy who knew a guy that knows that the guy wasn't armed? Wow! That is some straight up info, dude.
Oh, and the death rate among people shot with a standard issue 9MM pistol is far, far higher than those zapped with a stun gun. Were I acting up to the point where the police took an interest in my behavior, I'd much rather be stunned than shot.- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Lets get rid of all the weapons they use to kill people with.
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1and then have them yell and throw stones at the man or woman holding up a store with a gun, or just deciding to shoot up something somewhere. Great idea sir
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Yeah cause they save people all of the time... Good one. You should change your screen name to "iamstoopid".
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0Do you even have a point with this, because the line Yeah cause they save people all of the time doesn't have a direct reference. Who? or What? guns? Cops? God you're stupidity hurts my brain
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2Oldhick...give it up...time to head back to the home. I heard its bingo night.
- oldhick, on 04/26/2008, -1/+1True. This could be my lucky weekend!
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -3/+1and then have them yell and throw stones at the man or woman holding up a store with a gun, or just deciding to shoot up something somewhere. Great idea sir
- oldhick, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Lets get rid of all the weapons they use to kill people with.
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0And I believe you're completly anonymous story because? When people online say they were there...there usually not, you're either gullible or a liar
- zulfy26, on 04/26/2008, -2/+1Don't tase me bro
- solid12345, on 04/26/2008, -0/+3Why do people use officers being big burly men as an excuse?
What good is your muscles if the guy pulls out a knife or a gun on you.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -27/+37Officers are under no obligation to intentionally put themselves into harm's way by physically confronting someone like that. Cops don't know if someone is drunk or on drugs -- both of which have the potential for making a physical confrontation dangerous for the cop -- therefore making size irrelevant. It's obvious that you have absolutely no idea what happens during a confrontation and what cops face every shift, every day.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/25/2008, -44/+13While tragic, let's not claim the TASER was the cause of death right off the bat. The TASER has been blamed as the direct cause for death many times, but it's never been established that it was. Remember the recent case of Mark Backlund...the family also claimed the TASER was the cause, the autopsy and toxicology tests proved it wasn't.
- meells, on 04/25/2008, -5/+15Technically, its never been established that smoking causing cancer. Cancer is something that cannot be traced in a definite line of causality...like taser deaths. Care to take up that cause as well?
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -2/+1Um are you dumb? It has been established, its on the packs themselves. The surgeon general has stated that smoking causes cancer. And tazer deaths don't have a definite line of casualty, since only a very small percentage of deaths has happened and of many of those the taser was also found to not be the cause of death
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/27/2008, -1/+1Hahahaha...wow, you are quite ignorant.
Get educated at: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Toba ... "...Cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancer deaths..."
I'm waiting for you to show yourself as one of the Tin Foil Hat Brigade who believes the National Cancer Institute (part of US National Institutes of Health) is a total fabrication by the "vast right-wing conspiracy" and the website info was cobbled together over a weekend at Camp David by George Bush, his dad, and the ghost of Ronald Regan.- meells, on 04/28/2008, -1/+1I realize that this is far after the fact, but perhaps someone may still be interested. NO cancer can EVER be directly traced to a single cause to the exclusion of another possible cause. No doctor will EVER tell you that cancer A was definitely caused by factor B. Absolutes simply do not happen in medicine. Yes, there can be preponderences of evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, but it is something like this that keeps Mesothelioma victims form charging asbestos companies in criminal court. They can only win civil verdicts because there is ALWAYS a reasonable doubt where cancers are concerned. Children get cancer, non smokers get cancer, the list goes on. So a paper stating evidence does not equate to unequivocal proof. This is the kind of thing that a Radiology degree teaches me, but thanks for the input.
- glasnostic, on 04/25/2008, -2/+5would you volunteer to get tasered as long as that man was tasered?
also.... are you not aware that tasers are considered LESS lethal?- NoCt1, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Electricity hits the heart. You dont come back from that. As long as its below that amperage your good.. Once you cross that you flirt with death.
- techeric, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3YOU'RE
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1The skin does not conduct electricity very well. It doesn't travel to the heart.
- CajunDigg, on 04/25/2008, -8/+7Hey Genius, most officers ARE required to be TASERed, and maced, and.....when issued these incredible freedom protecting devices. I had a Secret Service Agent tell me a month ago that he'd take TASERing ANY day over a good macing
- mike17032, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5Hit the bury button little diggiots, but he is right. I know facts get in the way of your bitch fest about the police state, but trying to hide them is just pathetic even for you.
- glasnostic, on 04/25/2008, -3/+2did i ask if cops get tasered as part of their training?
no. so shut the ***** up *****.
the fact still remains.. this Capt.America isn't volunteering to get tasered for as long as the victim in this case. i would love to see any proof that any of the cops getting tasered are tasered for as long as this victim..
read the ***** comments before you make blanket assumptions about me *****. - Apophis574, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2As long as the victim? Mind telling me how long he was tased?
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3I was tased for training while in the Marines, 10 seconds (about a second and a half more than this guy) It hurt, but not horrible. Instead of jumping on the wagon from a 20 second clip that only shows the tasing itself and not his fighting with the officers, how about reserving judgement untill you actually know what happened.
- glasnostic, on 04/25/2008, -3/+2did i ask if cops get tasered as part of their training?
- mike17032, on 04/25/2008, -3/+5Hit the bury button little diggiots, but he is right. I know facts get in the way of your bitch fest about the police state, but trying to hide them is just pathetic even for you.
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -1/+5I've volunteered to be tazed twice and while not pleasant by any means, I would take that over getting the ***** beat out of me.
- glasnostic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1how long were you tasered?
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1The first time ~3-4 sec and the second time I don't know but it was worse because we all linked arms and they put the electrodes on the 1st and last person and the farther apart the electrodes are, the more it hurts.
- glasnostic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1how long were you tasered?
- mike17032, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3You are aware that most cops who carry tasers also have them used on them in training correct?
If its the death machine you seem to think it is, why dont we have tons of dead cops in Police Acamedys?- skinny01, on 04/26/2008, -1/+1I'm sure in training they don't repeatedly taze the officers once they hit the ground the way some of them do to civilians. In the training clips I've seen they always stop once the officer hits the ground, I'm assuming the way you're supposed to stop when dealing with civilians. Unfortunately, not all cops do as they're trained to do and some take things way too far.
- NoCt1, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Electricity hits the heart. You dont come back from that. As long as its below that amperage your good.. Once you cross that you flirt with death.
- joebrender, on 04/25/2008, -2/+6Tasers don't kill people. People kill people.
- Atmandk, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3Does CaptainAmerica work for TASER?
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2No...nor am I a stockholder. However, I am a subject matter expert in the use of force in law enforcement. Among other things, I used to teach Practical Application of Deadly Force to police academy recruits. Do some research...you'll learn that I'm correct in that TASERs are an effective and reasonable method of controlling resistive and potentially violent suspects who do not want to be arrested. It's safer for law enforcement officers in that it reduces their physical contact with a suspect, which is one of the primary reasons for officer injury. You'll also find that in cases where the use of a firearm and deadly force is justified under circumstances present at the time of the arrest, many officers use the TASER instead, so suspect lives are saved as well -- it's a win/win all around.
For those of you who think it's easy to control an uncooperative suspect being arrested without a tool such as the TASER, sign up to be a cop, go out and arrest people with harsh words, a mean face, and just your hands. Let me know how it goes.
- CaptainAmerica1, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2No...nor am I a stockholder. However, I am a subject matter expert in the use of force in law enforcement. Among other things, I used to teach Practical Application of Deadly Force to police academy recruits. Do some research...you'll learn that I'm correct in that TASERs are an effective and reasonable method of controlling resistive and potentially violent suspects who do not want to be arrested. It's safer for law enforcement officers in that it reduces their physical contact with a suspect, which is one of the primary reasons for officer injury. You'll also find that in cases where the use of a firearm and deadly force is justified under circumstances present at the time of the arrest, many officers use the TASER instead, so suspect lives are saved as well -- it's a win/win all around.
- sungoddess808, on 04/27/2008, -0/+2gave you a thumbs up.. but these people keep burying... meanies!!
- meells, on 04/25/2008, -5/+15Technically, its never been established that smoking causing cancer. Cancer is something that cannot be traced in a definite line of causality...like taser deaths. Care to take up that cause as well?
- pear1jamten, on 04/25/2008, -26/+16All I can think, is that if I were this man's family, I would be so angry I would leave America right away... ***** this trigger happy *****.. i'm done with it
- JointVenture, on 04/25/2008, -10/+5Yup, they should go to Somalia.
- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -8/+9Yeah well don't come to Canada, we don't want you.
- CatsAreGods, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4Especially if he's Polish, eh?
- pear1jamten, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2im already in canada and stealing your snow
- MrESaulved, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2Nice try, but instead of fleeing, demand justice. Or do you not want justice served?
- sqwirl, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Yeah, I mean, demanding justice has gotten us pretty far in the last 7 years. . .
- Galume, on 04/25/2008, -3/+0If I were you I'd leave America just on principle!
- lunacite, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Try North Korea, then come back and bitch about the taser....
- RealmDown, on 04/25/2008, -19/+77Use of a taser is use of deadly force and should only be used in the type of situation that calls for deadly force.
- Cimlite, on 04/25/2008, -6/+13Yes... now if only someone would inform the cops of that.
- RealmDown, on 04/25/2008, -3/+6Use of deadly force in a non-deadly force situation is *criminal*. Taser usage, like the firing of a weapon, should be subject to review EACH USE. If it was used incorrectly, then criminal charges should be forthcoming. That would get the message across.
- RealmDown, on 04/25/2008, -3/+6Use of deadly force in a non-deadly force situation is *criminal*. Taser usage, like the firing of a weapon, should be subject to review EACH USE. If it was used incorrectly, then criminal charges should be forthcoming. That would get the message across.
- yojiffyskippy, on 04/25/2008, -10/+4I agree. They should shoot them with their revolver instead....... but just shoot to injure. They could shoot a leg or arm and hope they don't hit a major artery. Ya, that sounds like a better strategy. /sarc/
- ByteGuerilla, on 04/25/2008, -0/+8That would have been clever and/or funny were it not for you tripping over yourself to look like an idiot.
- thesonofdarwin, on 04/25/2008, -4/+4Tasers are for use only as a replacement to a firearm. Would the officer have needed to use this pistol in this situation? If the answer is yes, then the use of a tazer is warranted. If not, the officer committed a crime. This is all fairly irrelevant as it's evident from the video the officer used the tazer sufficiently more than was called for. It's like using a nightclub to get someone to the ground subdued and once they are there kick them in the head a few times 'just cuz.'
- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -4/+1Yeah, lets just shoot everyone who dares commit an offence in the stupid rulebook called "the law"
- Bamont, on 04/25/2008, -7/+5There have been no more than 70 deaths as a result of tasers.
There is conclusive and compelling evidence that high amounts of both alcohol and drugs can cause a persons blood pressure and heart rate to rise to the point of being fatal AFTER being tased.
I don't think the police should have to put themselves in harms way because the lot of you believe it's their "job" to do so. Most of you have never been in confrontations with police, you sit at home in your comfortable sofas or your comfortable computer chairs and pass judgment on something you know absolutely zero about. You come to the internet and play armchair Individualist, refuse to empathize with the police officer, and choose to take on a position of opinion that isn't really supported often by facts.
Thousands and thousands of people are tased per day, and there have been 70 deaths since the year 2000. Don't start ***** with police, and you won't have an issue. If we as a society take away the ability to use force when necessary without putting them in harms way, then you've lost a lot of people willing to risk their lives for crappy pay and even more scrutiny.
Again, most of you have no idea what the hell you're talking about.- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2Obviously officers have the idea that these aren't lethal so it makes them that much more willing to use them, resulting in LETHAL (deaths). Which makes them lethal. The experiment failed, they cannot be trusted with them. They can go back to cracking skulls with their nightsticks now where there is no gray area. You suggest that the people of this country should ignore what is going on and the legality of it?, passing judgment? This is what is required of you to maintain our freedom. This officer is 100% criminal. He killed someone, that is fact. If I "accidentally" killed someone by tasering them where would I be. I guarantee it wouldn't be vacation. How many millions of police are also using these as torture devices. Becoming a cop has certain inherent risks, this doesn't give the person the right to fire bullets and tasers off everywhere they go to "stay out of harms way". I suggest you move to Russia where this might be more acceptable. Although the police state is fast catching up.
- Bamont, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Lethal force? People have been hit in the head with a billy club ONCE and died from an abnormal fracture. This doesn't indicate that, for any reason, the cops who did this were wrong in using force. You don't know what's going to happen, and we afford police officers the ability to make these judgment calls. I doubt many of you have the fortitude, maturity, and character to make these kinds of decisions. That's why you're here, talking in an open discussion about a police state (when you obviously have no idea what that means) - condemning a police officer from a video you saw FREELY up online.
You have about as much understanding of what indicates a police state as you do what the responsibility of a police officer is, and what they have to go through in order to survive.
- Bamont, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Lethal force? People have been hit in the head with a billy club ONCE and died from an abnormal fracture. This doesn't indicate that, for any reason, the cops who did this were wrong in using force. You don't know what's going to happen, and we afford police officers the ability to make these judgment calls. I doubt many of you have the fortitude, maturity, and character to make these kinds of decisions. That's why you're here, talking in an open discussion about a police state (when you obviously have no idea what that means) - condemning a police officer from a video you saw FREELY up online.
- elliottjgriffin, on 04/26/2008, -2/+1Baaaahhh sheep. Don't start with the cops and you're safe? Are you kidding me? I have some Kool Aid that Bill O'Reilly mixed; want some?
- Bamont, on 04/26/2008, -1/+1Because the "I'm an Individual and everyone is taking away my rights and I'm not a sheep! Fight the system!" thing is REALLY a unique perspective here on Digg.
- Player1, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1I've personally had the opportunity to meet several police officers (mostly through family friends, occasionally under more unfortunate circumstances.) I can safely say that at least 70% of them are pricks. I can understand that if your job is to find and cage people who will occasionally try killing you you may develop an “us against them” mentality toward even non-violent offenders. Still, police officers understand that if they use their gun or club unnecessarily they will be punished (albeit not as severely as I believe they should be) and therefor will show restraint. The problem with tasers is that even if it's not a deadly weapon, the officer has a weapon capable of causing intense pain which, because it's (usually) not lethal, is allowed to be used as a means of restraint, not self defense, with virtually no repercussions.
- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2Obviously officers have the idea that these aren't lethal so it makes them that much more willing to use them, resulting in LETHAL (deaths). Which makes them lethal. The experiment failed, they cannot be trusted with them. They can go back to cracking skulls with their nightsticks now where there is no gray area. You suggest that the people of this country should ignore what is going on and the legality of it?, passing judgment? This is what is required of you to maintain our freedom. This officer is 100% criminal. He killed someone, that is fact. If I "accidentally" killed someone by tasering them where would I be. I guarantee it wouldn't be vacation. How many millions of police are also using these as torture devices. Becoming a cop has certain inherent risks, this doesn't give the person the right to fire bullets and tasers off everywhere they go to "stay out of harms way". I suggest you move to Russia where this might be more acceptable. Although the police state is fast catching up.
- coyote1284, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6Use of a taser for 10-15 seconds is deadly force, like this guy did, not when used for 2-3 seconds as recommended.
- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Exactly, they are administering punishment. They are "frying" the person and some of them die.
- arcangelgabriel, on 04/26/2008, -0/+15 seconds is the duty cycle, which can be interrupted. As an FYI the "home" version of the Taser, made by Taser International, same folks who make the Police models, have a 30 second cycle.
- logan074, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Use of a fist can be deadly force, same with a baton or a flashlight.
- Guams, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1Whoa whoa whoa... hold up here. The use of a Taser is NOT the use of deadly force. As a matter of fact, the Taser is on the same level of the Use of Force Continuum as OC spray.
As far as using a Taser when someone points a gun at me... ***** that. I'm not trusting my life with two little probes and 20-some feet of wiring. Deadly force = deadly force. I'm not pussy-footing around with a Taser.
I'm still awaiting credible evidence to prove these deaths were caused solely by a taser.
- Cimlite, on 04/25/2008, -6/+13Yes... now if only someone would inform the cops of that.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -25/+10Since when did tasering become legal? It violates every civil right.
Maybe they should shoot 50 bullets at him.
wtf?
Don't tase me bro- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5Would you care to back that up with any proof at all?
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -4/+1Tasering goes beyond what is necessary in most situations. Reading this article, at least according to cop's story, tasering def seemed necessary. But you can't taser someone for, say sitting in the library and not being able to produce proper identification.
- veriix, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2...are you high or just an idiot?
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -4/+1Tasering goes beyond what is necessary in most situations. Reading this article, at least according to cop's story, tasering def seemed necessary. But you can't taser someone for, say sitting in the library and not being able to produce proper identification.
- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5Would you care to back that up with any proof at all?
- startmenu, on 04/25/2008, -14/+163I really hope when I die it gets caught on camera so folks can either digg or bury it according to how interesting they find my demise.
- an0nymous, on 04/25/2008, -0/+17We hope so too. Please make it interesting.
(Still watched the video though, didn't you?) - bobalien, on 04/25/2008, -1/+5oh man i even logged in just to digg that
- xlneoMAXlx, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Same. Also dugg.
- dafragsta, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Yeah, I often bitch about watching trainwrecks while thoroughly enjoying them too.
- jxfallout, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4...only to have the footage of your death, assuming it was on video, be turned into a Rick-Roll?
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I love snuff in the morning.
- 1b2a, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Where do you live?
- an0nymous, on 04/25/2008, -0/+17We hope so too. Please make it interesting.
- dsmatrix, on 04/25/2008, -19/+25This trigger happy injustice needs to stop.
- nycmac247, on 04/25/2008, -5/+1-
- ChicagoSwagger, on 04/25/2008, -27/+27Let me tell you something, pendejo. Ohio cop pull any of that crazy ***** with me, you flash a taser out on the lanes, I'll take it away from you, stick it up your ass and pull the ***** trigger 'til it goes "click."
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -6/+6Nicely played, nicely played
- badqat, on 04/25/2008, -15/+4Do so, and they'd be well within rights to use true deadly force on you, such as emptying their clip into your body.
- pojut, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6You have quite obviously never seen The Big Lebowski.
"No one ***** with the Jesus!"
- pojut, on 04/25/2008, -1/+6You have quite obviously never seen The Big Lebowski.
- jaydoj, on 04/25/2008, -2/+128 year olds dude.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -0/+6I'm glad someone gets it
- grainybazzles, on 04/25/2008, -1/+14All the dude ever wanted was to get his rug back.
- RustyJ, on 04/25/2008, -0/+7It really tied the place together, man.
- ChocChunkOaties, on 04/25/2008, -0/+7Shut the ***** up Donnie!!
- WehrisMike, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Thanks for this.
- MagMarCat, on 04/28/2008, -0/+2Donnie you are out of your element!
- AlvarH, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Jesus is right!
- Herostratus, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2The Dude abides...
- hooptyref, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1They pee'd on your ***** rug, dude...
- BN2L, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1Nobody ***** with the Jesus
- IDIGTHEDIGG, on 04/25/2008, -17/+17WTF is wrong with these police and tasers!
- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -12/+9More along the lines of wtf is wrong with the people that don't LISTEN to the police and get themselves tasered. Its not like they just go around tasing everyone they come across.
- roodammy44, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4It's hard to listen when you're on the ground being electricuted for minutes at a time
- SpasticThinker, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1They had time to listen before the cop started using it - maybe if they had chosen to listen then they wouldn't be rolling on the ground being "electricuted"?
- roodammy44, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4It's hard to listen when you're on the ground being electricuted for minutes at a time
- loroleg, on 04/25/2008, -4/+3NOTHING. The cops turn up to work and use the tolls they are given.
It's who ever said that tasers aren't deadly thathas a problem. - fani, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1 bury
- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -12/+9More along the lines of wtf is wrong with the people that don't LISTEN to the police and get themselves tasered. Its not like they just go around tasing everyone they come across.
- oderdigg, on 04/25/2008, -4/+52It sure sounded like he was tasering him for quite lengthy intervals. Isn't there a maximum amount of time someone should be tased? Like only 2-3 secs sustained max. I can imagine how hard it is on the body to go through 20-30 second tasing.
- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -13/+6its 5 second bursts. And if he keeps resisting like a moron they will keep hitting him with it.
- MrESaulved, on 04/25/2008, -2/+10Someone didn't watch the video, wesside. Or you would see that the officer did not follow procedure. Hmm, I think you prefer it that way.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2wesside flunked HS and went straight to the academy
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2The length has nothing to do with following procedure. The tazers only go for 5 seconds at a time.
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -3/+2Not sure why you were dugg down. I guess it's all the people that know soooo much about tazers. When you pull the trigger it will go for up to 5 sec. If they don't stop, you pull it again for up to 5 more sec. Rinse. Repeat.
- MrESaulved, on 04/25/2008, -2/+10Someone didn't watch the video, wesside. Or you would see that the officer did not follow procedure. Hmm, I think you prefer it that way.
- iZealot, on 04/25/2008, -3/+3Video was looping. Made it seem worse than it was.
- kcmedic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Yes. I only saw him tazed once. The others were looped. Watch the counter.
- mnemy, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2It was still a pretty long time. I mean, when he's rolling on the floor with sparks shooting out of his chest, ya, I think that's enough. In fact, the instant his legs buckle, you can turn the the off and detain him. The big strong police dont need the person to ***** himself before being able to slap a pair of cuffs on him.
- Wesside, on 04/25/2008, -13/+6its 5 second bursts. And if he keeps resisting like a moron they will keep hitting him with it.
- mariajose578, on 04/25/2008, -8/+12That is really sad, that is my University as well, it could have been anyone I know hanging out after the bars close. RIP Kevin.
- yojiffyskippy, on 04/25/2008, -4/+5"it could have been anyone I know hanging out after the bars close"? Really? You should pick the people you hang out with more carefully.
- padrebuf, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3dude, i'm at miami too. it's not that big of a place so everyone in town has been to that bar on more than one occasion.
- sublimemm, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4as someone who grew up in oxford and went to miami... trust me, there aren't any non-5-collar popping douchebags in the whole place.
- yojiffyskippy, on 04/25/2008, -4/+5"it could have been anyone I know hanging out after the bars close"? Really? You should pick the people you hang out with more carefully.
- willdiggforfood, on 04/25/2008, -39/+50OK, so no taser then. We're back to guns then?
This guy was tased for fighting with an officer and repeatedly ignoring warnings to stop. The cops just did their job and they didn't do anything wrong.
Bury me if you want, but it would be more interesting if you tried to refute the facts first. Or you can hit-and-run like a coward. It's just a click with the mouse after all.- SouthsideIrish, on 04/25/2008, -12/+4So, ignoring warnings allows the use of deadly force. Fair enough. Just go back to using a gun instead. Can't wait to see all of the people being shot in the streets.
- burrgrinder, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Yes, it does actually, ignoring lawful orders implies you are challenging them and presenting yourself as a threat. If you continue to resist warnings and lawful orders, they will escalate the amount of force they use.
- avdp, on 04/25/2008, -2/+1ANY ignoring and they can shoot you? Like you're running away from them, they can just shoot you in the back?
- nycmac247, on 04/25/2008, -1/+5yes, it should be deadly.
I would much rather have assholes fear the police instead of messing up in my neighborhood - PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Blow things entirely out of proportion much?
- mike17032, on 04/25/2008, -3/+2Tasers are not deadly force kid.
And no, saying something over and over again does not make it true.
- burrgrinder, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3Yes, it does actually, ignoring lawful orders implies you are challenging them and presenting yourself as a threat. If you continue to resist warnings and lawful orders, they will escalate the amount of force they use.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -7/+29How about using the ol' billy club? Or using backup to surround the guy and throw him down and hold him down. You know, good ol' police work.
- eternal464, on 04/25/2008, -6/+9backup? officers rarely travel in pairs anymore, and if every incident where someone is reportedly out of control required "backup", people would be bitchin about the taxes as thered be more police officers. Tasers are a non lethal means of submission. A billy club is a hand to hand weapon, and is not used much anymore. Do some research, during submission with clubs more people die and suffer serious injuries than tasers ever will cause.
- sublimemm, on 04/25/2008, -1/+8trust me, this was literally a quarter of a block from the police station, and when the cops in oxford are called, there are at least 3 there within seconds. ive seen 5 cop cars roll up to a loud noise complaint in oxford before. while your statement maybe true in other places, it definitely wasn't the case in this one
- lunacite, on 04/25/2008, -5/+1His statement is not specific to this situation. Your comments point out an anomaly to the norm.
- sublimemm, on 04/25/2008, -1/+8trust me, this was literally a quarter of a block from the police station, and when the cops in oxford are called, there are at least 3 there within seconds. ive seen 5 cop cars roll up to a loud noise complaint in oxford before. while your statement maybe true in other places, it definitely wasn't the case in this one
- eternal464, on 04/25/2008, -6/+9backup? officers rarely travel in pairs anymore, and if every incident where someone is reportedly out of control required "backup", people would be bitchin about the taxes as thered be more police officers. Tasers are a non lethal means of submission. A billy club is a hand to hand weapon, and is not used much anymore. Do some research, during submission with clubs more people die and suffer serious injuries than tasers ever will cause.
- id10tjoeuser, on 04/25/2008, -15/+3Do you know why he was fighting the cop? Were his civil liberties being violated and he was standing up for his American freedoms? Your a communist. You shouldn't have to suffer lethal punishment for a non-lethal crime. That is, unless we live in a police state where the slightest of insurrections are met with a swift punishment. In this case, that's what happened, that cop is now on paid leave for being the judge, jury, and executioner. Thanks America, and ***** you.
- bobalien, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4Do YOU know why he was fighting the cop?
I hear Canada's currently accepting citizenship applications - stubear, on 04/25/2008, -1/+7Jesus F'ing Christ,it's Y-O-U-'-R-E, not Y-O-U-R. IT's an f'ing contraction of YOU ARE, it is not possessive. Learn to spell already.
- theNolander, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2THANK YOU! Finally someone gets to the bottom of the issue.
- akamurph, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Please tell us id10t why he as fighting the cop then since you seem to know the story of his civil liberties being violated!! Oh wait!! You are ASSuming that... trying to use your brain instead of jumping on another bandwagon "tazors + cops r evil" ship.
- tocsy, on 04/26/2008, -0/+0I don't understand what the fact that this guy was fighting a cop has to do with an economic system that, while at the opposite end of the spectrum from ours, really shouldn't have the scare effect it does on people. The word you're looking for is totalitarian, and communism is far from being synonymous.
- bobalien, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4Do YOU know why he was fighting the cop?
- 0011002, on 04/25/2008, -1/+13The situation seemed appropriate from the cops account but it seems the taser was misused from either lack of training or the cop being over zealous. I don't think a taser should be used longer than a couple of seconds not 20 to 30 seconds.
- sereth, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2The video is a loop. Tasers only cycle for 5 secs and have enough juice to discharge 3 times. He was in fact only hit with a 5 sec burst. You don't hold it for 5 secs it automatically cycles for 5 secs.
The video has been edited to make it seem like it was more than once. - mnemy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2It shouldnt even be used for a couple seconds. Just for an instant, if that. The cops are trained to wrestle down offenders and cuff them. A brief shock will take their legs from under them, and the officer will have an easy time finishing off the job on his own.
- sereth, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2The video is a loop. Tasers only cycle for 5 secs and have enough juice to discharge 3 times. He was in fact only hit with a 5 sec burst. You don't hold it for 5 secs it automatically cycles for 5 secs.
- zantos420, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2bean bag bullets. no electrocution needed; pcp won't stop the pain; you're going down. unless you get sniper shot in eye with one, you won't have anything more than a couple welts.
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0ever fired a bean bag round, I did in Afghanistan, if you get hit in the head at close range it could kill you, knock something loose, disrupt brain signal, something to kill. Then everyone would be on the anti bean bag bandwagon because someone with a brain condition died, or heart because those guns can break ribs and mess the heart too, even though the cops couldn't have known about his condition. Maybe this man had a heart condition, maybe not, but almost all of the very very few deaths that happen from tasers are with people that have pre-existing conditions. Rule 1 listen to the copst Rule 2 if you have a heart or brain condition....really listen because you could die, and its not the cops fault.
- Hodr, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3I think you miss the most obvious problem with the situation. If you can kill people with a taser (and clearly you can) then it should require greater training and LESS USE (just like a gun requires more training and less use than a billy club). Think of it this way, would you have shot the 'don't tase me bro' guy in the leg with a gun, you know, because its usually not fatal, or used another form of deterrence that has a significantly greater than zero chance of killing him just because he may have asked an inappropriate question or non-violently refused to cooperate with security? If you answered no, then you should also be outraged that anyone would be tasered for a similar offense.
- mnemy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+4Officers have plenty of ways to detain a routy subject. Mace wont kill anyone. A billy club may break a bone or two, but if you use it right, it's not going to kill anyone. Tazer should only be used in place of guns when possible.
- mrraven200, on 04/26/2008, -2/+1You don't risk KILLING someone for being disorderly outside a bar. If that's really where we are at, then yes we are a police state. Hint ever heard of the Constitutional right to a trial before being fond guilty and being killed as in dead forever. The cops have this plain wrong and need to go back to the drawing board to find ways of subduing people who don't have guns themselves without killing or maiming them or our 220 year old Constitution is just a "goddamn piece of paper" like the chief monkey said it was.
If the perp has a gun or other deadly instrument then of course it's a different story and deadly force on the cops part is justified self defense.
- SouthsideIrish, on 04/25/2008, -12/+4So, ignoring warnings allows the use of deadly force. Fair enough. Just go back to using a gun instead. Can't wait to see all of the people being shot in the streets.
- wukillabee, on 04/25/2008, -15/+7pwned
- alexcroox, on 04/25/2008, -9/+15thank god overzealous police in the UK are not given guns and tasers!!
- milkmage, on 04/25/2008, -0/+6well then who shot the electrician in the underground
7 times
in the head?- comradeTJH, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2That wasn't suicide?
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -0/+0brilliant comrade, wit is something to be respected
- ByteGuerilla, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4They are being rolled out to U.K. police forces. Something tells me their positively *stellar* record in the U.S. had something to do with it. -_-
- monoa, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0Over zealous? In the past couple of years I don't recall any story of police brutality coming out of the UK, whereas there isn't a week goes by without some horror story from the USA. The militaristic mentality of too many USA cops is all over YouTube and the 'net for all to see. It's scary.
As for "shooting electricians in the head", that was a sad, isolated mistake, partly caused by very heightened tension in the aftermath of the London bombings.- urgeigh, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I totally agree with you but I still find 7 shots to the head hard to file under a simple mistake.
- peoplerstoopid, on 04/25/2008, -0/+0Oh what about say this article I just found after reading your posts litereally 2 seconds. A black teenager was brutaly beaten by a police officer while two of her colleagues held the girl down. Happened in South Yorkshire
Christopher Alder age 37 choked to death in a police station in Hull
You can go to amnesty internationals website that has an article about the police brutality in the UK needed to be addressed. And moana here's why you don't see them...they don't get posted on the internet, America is watched every day just for a piece of juicy gossip that can be used for media. Thats the price being a Celebrity nation whether we're liked or not we get scrutinized. This ***** happens all over the world....a lot more in many areas. It doesn't get told. You have to look it up. And in five seconds I found multiple websites from the UK about (and some are really horrid) police brutality
- milkmage, on 04/25/2008, -0/+6well then who shot the electrician in the underground
- ocellaris, on 04/25/2008, -25/+9Or you know, you could NOT get in trouble with the police in the first place. Maybe if they taser a few more people to death, people would stop ***** around so much. The fact is if you do not ***** around and do stupid *****, you run about a 0% risk of getting tasered.
- frenchi, on 04/25/2008, -9/+8you are right, you ***** *****, I didn't realize that getting drunk and loud was a justification for the DEATH PENALTY. It's because of stupid ***** like you that this country is going to *****, rationalizing someone's death by taser is probably the lowest kind of argument you could EVER make. I put you in the same category as rush limbaugh
- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3It's not because of stupid kids that like to get into altercations with police officers? It's only because of people that dislike those type of actions?
Oh I see. How many cops did you fight with today in order to achieve your patriotic quota?
The kid was stupid, his stupidity killed him, oh well. Stupidity leads to death every day in this world. See drunk driving for a clear example of that.
- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3It's not because of stupid kids that like to get into altercations with police officers? It's only because of people that dislike those type of actions?
- id10tjoeuser, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2I'm sure that sort of education works very well in a trailer park. "Dont ya'll go doing no stupid ***** - else'n the police gonna shock ya!" I dont think congress has made a legal definition of "stupid *****" or "***** around'. I'm confused, would you like to expound? Because all I'm hearing is a retard spout off about how he thinks its okay for the cops to kill people for loitering.
- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Guess you missed the words: "Piskura was fighting with an officer and ignored warnings to stop"
Doesn't sound like loitering to me.
- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2Guess you missed the words: "Piskura was fighting with an officer and ignored warnings to stop"
- Abram730, on 04/25/2008, -4/+3Or you could put everybody in camps with numbers on their arm.
America is a police state and you defend that ocellaris.
I remember when the police killed a man in my city for not following orders. He was on the ground having a seizure at the time. I guess that will learn epileptics a thing or two. *****- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2You lost me at police state.
- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1These damn epileptics shouldn't be out spasming on our streets and getting away with it......taser him officer!
- frenchi, on 04/25/2008, -9/+8you are right, you ***** *****, I didn't realize that getting drunk and loud was a justification for the DEATH PENALTY. It's because of stupid ***** like you that this country is going to *****, rationalizing someone's death by taser is probably the lowest kind of argument you could EVER make. I put you in the same category as rush limbaugh
- dekuscrub, on 04/25/2008, -26/+12Do you know how many lives tasers have SAVED?????
I'm tired of all these taser stories. Do you want cops to go back to using guns instead? Or how about those countries where even their law enforcement is not allowed to carry guns? Have you seen those videos on TrueTV where it takes 5 cops to take down one knife-wielding guy?- Scr4tchFury, on 04/25/2008, -2/+5The problem is that the number of people not killed can't be measured with any certainty.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -2/+3The problem is that cops use tasers in lieu of force, not guns. Are you saying in the past, cops would have just shot people for not listening to them?
- latinjones, on 04/25/2008, -2/+2This guy didn't wield a knife, but even an unarmed person can be very dangerous. I guess that's what makes the justification so arguable.
- talonstriker, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2This isn't about the ethics/morality of using tasers. This is about abusing them.
- mattmck, on 04/25/2008, -7/+8did the video loop? and how was it taken?
- griz, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3I though it looked looped as well.
- Asvetic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4Why is mattmck getting dugg down? That video was obviously looped, at least 5 times. It was probably a camera phone with a low-light setting that only videotaped for 8-12 seconds.
- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Yes it looped watch the number in the bottom right corner for absolute proof.
- synapsed, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1It was probably recorded with the Taser Cam. It is a specially modified taser battery that houses an infrared camera and microphone to the bottom of the pistol grip and records automatically.
http://www.taser.com/products/law/Pages/TASERCAM.a ...
- Trozz, on 04/25/2008, -6/+8Taser Section.
- dontwhine, on 04/25/2008, -20/+12dont be a ***** and you wont get tazed. seems simple enough
- logan074, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I love how these comments are constantly buried when yhey make the most sense. If you don't want a cop to ***** with you stop breaking the law out in public.
- bcherup, on 04/25/2008, -15/+0Don't Tase Me, Bro!
- Endersion, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I hope someone tases your ass to death so you can have immature teenage punks posting ***** on your death report mocking the way you died. I understand this is the internet but you don't realize that this man is DEAD, the value of a human life often goes unappreciated. Just imagine your mom comes home crying her ***** eyes out and when you ask why she tells you that daddy is dead because he got a little too drunk. Use your brain and show a little respect.
- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Yep it would be sad, but I still wouldn't care. I'd be dead, you see.
I hope you felt the same remorse for the people in that LA bank robbery who were gunned down while firing automatic weapons on the police and the public. Or any death at all really.
- PolishLogic, on 04/25/2008, -0/+2Yep it would be sad, but I still wouldn't care. I'd be dead, you see.
- Endersion, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1I hope someone tases your ass to death so you can have immature teenage punks posting ***** on your death report mocking the way you died. I understand this is the internet but you don't realize that this man is DEAD, the value of a human life often goes unappreciated. Just imagine your mom comes home crying her ***** eyes out and when you ask why she tells you that daddy is dead because he got a little too drunk. Use your brain and show a little respect.
- Scr4tchFury, on 04/25/2008, -16/+6Don't kill me, bro!
- bond1963, on 04/25/2008, -6/+22My thoughts are that the cops are starting to get too reliant on the tasers. I've seen videos of people being tased just because they are abusive towards the cops or not following orders of the cops. It might make sense if the cop is alone but I've seen it happen with multiple cops standing around. So instead of grabbing the person they just "take the person on a taser ride". Yes, I think they should have them. Yes, they are being abused.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+5Exactly. Cops don't use good discretion on WHEN to use it.
- fulibs, on 04/25/2008, -7/+1Wait, let me understand your argument here. You say "I've seen vidios of people being tased just because they are abusive towards the cops or not following orders of the cops", so they are breaking the law right? So, it is the cops fault for tasing somebody that was breaking the law, infringing on other peoples rights, not the person breaking the law? So, we should outlaw tasers, and revert back to the previous solution guns?
Sounds good to me.- mafiax, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4Apparently you can't read. He said "Yes, I think they should have them. Yes, they are being abused."
Understand now? - bond1963, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Being a cop is a dangerous, hard, dirty hands on job. I think every cop knows that. That's why most of them are the macho type personality. They need to be. But that may be changing. We can now have the nerdy, stick figure cop because they don't need to wrestle a guy to the ground any more. At the first sign of trouble then can tase their butts. This should save on the cops cleaning bills because they don't have to get dirty anymore.
I was being sarcastic of course. But if they continue to be in the news for using tasers when they could have just grabbed the guy/girl then states are going to take them away and I don't think that's a good idea either. If you're a cop and by yourself and the subject is abusive and big then tase him if he doesn't comply with your instructions. If there a 5 of you standing around a guy and he's not doing exactly what you say then warn him he's going to be arrested and if he doesn't comply then throw him over the hood of the car and cuff him.
Every tasering event should be logged into a nationwide database. Trends can be watched for and cops can learn from each other. If one state or city or part of a city is way above the average then maybe training needs to be done or not. Maybe it's a higher crime area.
People are starting to notice taser use. I'm not attacking it. I'm trying to protect it. The cops that are abusing it are going to be the people that cost lives in the future just because they didn't want to put hands on someone anymore.
- mafiax, on 04/25/2008, -0/+4Apparently you can't read. He said "Yes, I think they should have them. Yes, they are being abused."
- tufftugg, on 04/25/2008, -7/+19How many times have you people been told Tazers are safe? Just listen like a good little Herd, and if you do, then the Cattle prode, I mean Tazer won't be used on you.
- ozymandias2012, on 04/25/2008, -3/+26It's a sad situation but when dealing with cops nowadays you have to realize that if you get out of line, or they THINK you're getting out of line, you could lose your life. If you think they're treating you unfairly just be polite, get a lawyer, and start up the lawsuits. No sense getting killed because you had too much to drink and got into it with a cop. It's not the way it's supposed to be but it seems like this is going to keep happening as long as they keep using these taser things.
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3Exactly. If the cop thinks he's being disrespected or smart-assed, then he does what he does best.
- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -0/+3Yea and they think it's not lethal so they figure "I'll show this guy some pain".
- monoa, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Yeah, some drunken kid gives me attitude and I'll tase some respect in to the bitch. USA! USA! USA!
- mrraven200, on 04/26/2008, -1/+1So the penalty for disrespect to cops is death without trial? If that is the case how are they different then the KGB, or Gestapo? Cops are humans beings and should be treated as such i.e. not assaulted, but not treated as demigods either.
- mnemy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2That's just the problem. Cops are allowed to have too big of egos. They can pretty much do whatever they want. They're just bullies in uniforms. We pay them (by way of taxes) to keep us safe. While they do that, they also use abuse that authority. Someone mouthing off an officer is no danger to the public. A disruptive drunk is a nuisance, but hardly a threat unless he gets behind the wheel. Stop treating your common citizen like a criminal, and start focusing your attention on the real scum who are endangering others.
- monoa, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1The whole point of being drunk is that you are very likely no longer rational. This is Police Training 101. You diffuse the situation, not inflame it by acting like the ***** Gestapo in order to inflate your own ego. I think nightclub bouncers in other countries are vetted better than cops in the USA....
- pointsguy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+3Exactly. If the cop thinks he's being disrespected or smart-assed, then he does what he does best.
- wafflesomd, on 04/25/2008, -3/+13Did he really have to Tase him for 20 seconds? I'm pretty sure a couple 1 second bursts would've stopped him.
- BrewBeau, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5I'm not defending the cop's actions, but it sounded and looked like the video was looped.
- stubear, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1It was looped. Look at the light patterns that cross his shirt at at the end of the roll. I didn't have the sound on (at work) so I couldn't tell how many cops MIGHT have been on scene but where are people getting the idea (from posts above) that there were 5 or more cops involved?
- griz, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I watched it again. It certainly looked looped and edited.
- snotrokit, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2it's looped, but it is the same 20 second hit over and over again.
- sereth, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1You need a new watch. It's not 20 seconds long....
- bonnelkr, on 05/05/2008, -0/+0It was around 10 seconds, which translates to two pulls on the switch. And a couple of one-second bursts won't do much to a young, inebriated man but make him madder.
- BrewBeau, on 04/25/2008, -0/+5I'm not defending the cop's actions, but it sounded and looked like the video was looped.
- milkmage, on 04/25/2008, -10/+11taser, billy club or bullet? pick one.
- MrESaulved, on 04/25/2008, -4/+3False dilemma fallacy, you have a brain so use it. Unless violence appeals to you.
- mlvassallo, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1I hate to defend Cops who abuse their power- but their life is potentially on the line in any situation. If it is a proper use of the taser I'd prefer that before they bludgeon somebody and cause brain trauma or discharge their fire arm.
- yojiffyskippy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+1Oh right, I guess milmage forgot the "disregard the law" option.
- bluezombie, on 04/25/2008, -1/+7Billy club, followed by bullet. Then there will be absolutely no place for the officer to hide in court from the excessive force charge.
- silentboom, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Exactly right. I prefer Billy club, I would like him to do it by his own hand to be even more responsible.
- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -4/+2How about none of the above, what the ***** gives anyone the right to kill someone or batter them for resisting arrest, why dont the police just ***** off
- sixthree, on 04/26/2008, -0/+1Yeah, who needs police anyways?
- mnemy, on 04/25/2008, -1/+2What ever happened to mace or good old fashioned wrestling. If you can't take down a drunk with your bare hands, you don't belong on the force.
- mlvassallo, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1Drunk has a concealed knife. You get stabbed. Then what?
- MrESaulved, on 04/25/2008, -4/+3False dilemma fallacy, you have a brain so use it. Unless violence appeals to you.
- mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -3/+4"No one feels this loss more deeply than we do; however, we still request that people refrain from rash judgment and wait until the independent investigation of this event is complete,"
Mal1964 > No Comment.- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0Lets replace "investigation" with commen sense and deductive logic
they guy is tasered while drunk, now he's dead after 4 days in hospital, go figure idiots- mal1964, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1No Comment.
- SpasticThinker, on 04/25/2008, -0/+1"Commen" sense and deductive logic tell me two things about you:
a. You don't understand the use of the
- icemanex, on 04/25/2008, -1/+0Lets replace "investigation" with commen sense and deductive logic