Better rules needed for Taser use, grand jury says (CA)

[struggle4progress]

Man's death last September came after being shocked multiple times
By SARAH ROHRS, Times-Herald staff writer

As law enforcement use of Taser guns becomes more popular, the Solano County Grand Jury recommended Tuesday that police develop better guidelines for officers when they use the controversial stun guns.

Police say Tasers are useful in stopping and controlling people with the least amount of resistance. Officers say Tasers prevent injuries, accidents, and, in some cases, death.

But in its report, the grand jury noted that civil liberties groups say some law enforcement officers misused the 50,000-volt weapons to punish suspects. <snip>

http://timesheraldonline.com/ci_2817339

[AX10]

1. Good to hear. Tasers are being used in places where...

police would have never used any force before. Officers used to talk to people first. The taser is being used as a substitute on non-compliant non violent people.

Remember, when we protest, do you want the cops to taser you because are
PASSIVLY RESISTING the system?

[Miss Chybil]

2. Tasers are deadly weapons and must be treated as such.

This is a good first step, but there must be more...

[liberalnurse]

3. So is a Ford Mustang, a six pak of Bud light

and a hockey puck.

[Miss Chybil]

4. True, but nobody's authorized anybody to run anybody over, or beat

them over the head with a six pack in the name of keeping the peace. When I was in law enforcement, we had to get our clothes dirty once in a while. It wasn't all about tasering people in diabetic shock, who happen to turn out to be off-duty police officers, because nobody took the time to find out what was the matter, or tasering 60+ year old women because they won't get out of the car, (diplomacy is obviously a lost art), or having five officers tasering one person at the same time - over and over and over again. Tasering has become a first resort, not a second to the last resort. Just like everything else, it can be, and is being abused. I'd think you being a nurse might make you a little more concerned about people abusing each other for no other reason than they can. Oh, but I forgot, cops like to hang out in the emergency room much longer than is necessary....