Kalrog wrote:I think my problem with this is I see a tazer as a nice option prior to pulling the handgun. If you can't pull the handgun, then you probably shouldn't be pulling the tazer either.
They are called less lethal instead of non lethal for a reason.
if you put them on a scale, the taser comes before OC spray. OC spray comes before putting your hands on someone. the taser has no residual effects and is considered less force than OC spray. if you need to pull a handgun, you should pull a handgun. a rookie cop in el paso made that mistake and he's got his own section on ODMP now.
most departments now are getting away from the 'use of force continuum' because attorneys are using that as a crutch. now, the best way to put it is an officer in the middle of a circle surrounded by various options, or tools, rather than progressing through various levels. the rationale behind this is officers don't have to keep trying things until they find something that works.
i wasn't there, so i have no idea if 4 more times was excessive. having been hit with the media spotlight on a few occassions, i can tell you they tend to put on a hefty slant. most police stories don't sell papers unless you juice them up a bit. in one instance, my butt was all over the news with really juicy headlines. they never reported the final outcome...go figure.
i've seen 3 officers wrestling a woman in her 60s. you should never make the mistake of taking anything for granted. the first time you get bitten or kicked in the groin, you won't make that mistake again.
