Thank God I'm not like Imran.

[snoopy369]

The above post of mine aside, there's probably something to the use of the Tazer. Drunk and disorderly types often require some impetus to leave; I've had to call the police to have drunks and such taken out of my store, and in some cases they've had to threaten them with mace (the weapon of choice of Chicago police )

Now, it's never gone down to actual macing, but there have been instances where I wondered.

The use of the Tazer doesn't necessarily surprise me, if the Library's explanation is closer to the truth. However, the repeated use is a real question for me... I can't imagine anyone resisting after a tazing, even just once.

[Donegeal]

Originally posted by Blaupanzer
The tazer is a defensive weapon;

Where did you come up with this one? The Tazer is just another option on the force option continuum. It is used as a divise to help the enforcement of the law. It's a device that causes pain to get non-compliant peopple to comply. Similar to compression holds or pressure points. They hurt, that is their design and their purpose. The hope is that the person who it's getting done to will be like "Ouch! That hurts! I'll do what you want if you stop hurting me!".

The biggest question about the Tazer is where does it stand in the force option continuum?

For those who do not know, here is the force option continuum (the use of this breakdown of use of force is so wide spead in the US that I can be resonably safe in saying that almost all, if not all departments use it):

Presence (just standing there, my favorite )
Verbal commands (Actually talking to and giving directions to people)
Empty hand control (Compression holds/pressure points)
Intermediate weapon (Baton, pepper spray)
Deadly force (duh...)

Normally, one would be under the assumption that it would go under intermediate weapon, but the Tazer is so very different from standard intermediate weapons. It has no lasting effects (ie: once it is done discharging, which is 5 seconds, the only lasting effect is two little red marks and a memory of pain) unlike the baton and pepper spray which could require some type of assistance after it's use. Hell, even empty hand control can require assistance after it's use (black eye, tender joints etc...). So in this respect, it could concievably be placed before going hands on with a subject (personally, this is kinda where I like it, as it will allow me to get my job done with a minimum amount of risk to getting hurt for both the subject and myself). However, it IS a very powerful weapon that can take down anyone (I don't care who you are, you get Tazed, you ARE going down). It really depends on how the departmental policy is written in it's use.

Oh, and by the way, the way the crowd was so hostile towards the cops in that clip, I fairly sure that the person who asked for the badge and name of the officers involved didn't ask for it like "Excuse me officer, I was wondering if I might have your badge number and name in reference to this situation.". It was probably something more like "Holy crap you abusive ****ing pig! Give me your god damn badge number!". However, as none of us know for sure, it is almost impossible to determine if appropriate action was taken.

[Zkribbler]

If I was like Imran, I'd be smarter and better looking.

[Q Classic]

Interesting....

http://messageboard.tuckermax.com/showthread.php?t=12336

[Drake Tungsten]

The witness says "******s" later in the thread. Not going to convince anyone...

[Donegeal]

On the same lines, the entire board was laced with profanities, both for and against.