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I was in a store the other day and a lady, who saw my taser on my belt, asked me how my department could still use tasers after all the deaths that have been reported. She then went on to say that her son was tazed 6 times by police from a different department.
Now I am not one who likes to speak with citizens about things that they already have set opions on. But I felt that this needed to be addressed.
I first asked her about her son. She showed me a picture of a very large football playing teenager. She stated that he has had some drug problems before and has been arrested for fighting. I asked her if he had been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which she stated he had smoked meth.
I advised her that most of the deaths that have been reported were of suspects who had been under the influence of drugs. I advised her that if the officer or officer's are unable to gain controle of the suspect physically, they need to use more force ie, mace, baton or bean bag. I further advised her that if the suspect is under the influence of drugs they may not feel pain so mace or baton will not work. A bean bag gun is not readily accessable. so the other thing would be a gun or a taser. I advised her that if her son is shot with a gun, he has a higher chance of dying than with the taser. I advised her that any weapon can kill. The taser is more of a last chance option for the officer before using deadly force which he would be using if he used a gun.
She told me that she has seen on "COPS" several officers are used to gain control of a suspect. I advised her that "cops" is also edited and in the real world, it is looked upon as police beating a suspect. After about 30 minutes she, although was not completly convinced, understood why tasers are needed by the police. Citizens have made it hard for police to pursue a suspect in a vehicle because they have not been told why they are needed. If people aren't advised why tasers are needed, the taser will be the next thing officers will lose.
Now I am not one who likes to speak with citizens about things that they already have set opions on. But I felt that this needed to be addressed.
I first asked her about her son. She showed me a picture of a very large football playing teenager. She stated that he has had some drug problems before and has been arrested for fighting. I asked her if he had been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, which she stated he had smoked meth.
I advised her that most of the deaths that have been reported were of suspects who had been under the influence of drugs. I advised her that if the officer or officer's are unable to gain controle of the suspect physically, they need to use more force ie, mace, baton or bean bag. I further advised her that if the suspect is under the influence of drugs they may not feel pain so mace or baton will not work. A bean bag gun is not readily accessable. so the other thing would be a gun or a taser. I advised her that if her son is shot with a gun, he has a higher chance of dying than with the taser. I advised her that any weapon can kill. The taser is more of a last chance option for the officer before using deadly force which he would be using if he used a gun.
She told me that she has seen on "COPS" several officers are used to gain control of a suspect. I advised her that "cops" is also edited and in the real world, it is looked upon as police beating a suspect. After about 30 minutes she, although was not completly convinced, understood why tasers are needed by the police. Citizens have made it hard for police to pursue a suspect in a vehicle because they have not been told why they are needed. If people aren't advised why tasers are needed, the taser will be the next thing officers will lose.
Oh well, guess we will stick to good ol fashion woopin. Stay safe.
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