Update on tasering of nonviolent protesters.

[Vinca]

As many of you might remember, last summer 2 nonviolent protesters in Brattleboro, Vermont were tased by the local police for no reason at all. They had chained themselves to a barrel in a vacant lot to protest a plan that would turn open space into a truck stop and refused to unlock the chain and leave the property. They weren't hurting anyone or even obstructing traffic. It's a weedy plot of land next to a state highway. Rather than wait them out (it was a hot day - they would have needed water), the police took the speedy way out and used the taser. Now the town is on the hook for multiple lawsuits. An independent study (commissioned by the town) found the use of the taser "unnecessary and excessive." On a side note, the police chief was fired over the incident, despite the fact he had ordered the officers to use restraint with the protesters, and he's filed suit, too.

Here's a link if anyone wants to read the whole story.
http://www.reformer.com/search/ci_8212689?IADID=Search-www.reformer.com-www.reformer.com

[LiberalFighter]

1. If the police chief ordered officers to use restraint then he shouldn't had been fired.

The officers involved should had been fired instead.