GA Police Chiefs Back Use of Taser

[TheFederalistWeasel]

GP Police Chiefs Back Use of Taser
ATLANTA (AP) - A Georgia police chiefs group is backing use of Taser stun guns but recommending tighter controls, better training
and restrictions of sales to the public.

An ad-hoc committee of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police compiled the 54-page report released yesterday to create
uniform guidelines for use of the Taser guns. The committee concluded that the Taser is an appropriate and effective tool for law enforcement when used the proper way.

The committee also noted that the Taser -- like any other weapon -- may be misused or abused. The report says -- quote -- "The
committee condemns the use of the electronic control weapon by law enforcement in the field as punishment or to cause pain."

The report's recommendations include creating a Georgia Peace Officers Standards Training Council certification for Taser use and
standardized Taser training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

The report says six people in Georgia have died after being shocked with the Taser. Medical examiners in all of those cases found that the deaths were NOT caused by the Taser.

The deaths include two people who were shocked by deputies in Houston County in middle Georgia and one man who died in Gwinnett
County.

In the Gwinnett County case, the widow of the jail inmate who died days after officers shocked him with a Taser says she will file a lawsuit.

 

[Fly320s]

How does this:

restrictions of sales to the public.

jive with this:

Taser -- like any other weapon -- may be misused or abused.

 

[TheFederalistWeasel]

Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police = Left Wing Group of Political Appointees


They do not stand for 98% of the views of your rank-n-file GA LEO's

 

[Joejojoba111]

Unfortunately they hold 98% of the sway. When a police chief says something on TV, that's that. And when a group of them agree, that's gospel.

What? The executive branch shouldn't abuse their persuasive and coercive power for the purpose of infiltrating the legislative cycle? Bite your tongue boy, afore they cut's it off a ya.

 

[Standing Wolf]

No shortage of wannabe little Hitlers running around in uniform, I guess.

 

[Joejojoba111]

No, Hitler has a category reserved for himself and other genocidal maniacs, Pol Pot, probably Stalin, Cheauchesque (sry), etc. It's a clearly defined category. Just my opinion.

As for police chiefs and their institutions enhancing their power at every chance they get, through every means possible - that's human nature. The country was designed to thwart such ambitions, but those checks have been eroded. It's like a dam breaking, and greed and selfish ambition and stuff like that are what were being held back. First a couple little cracks appear, then as more and more 'lust for power' flows through the cracks widen and then boom, the whole thing gives way in a torrent of self-serving petty aggrandinzing fiefdom-building, and the hapless town below is what was called democracy and liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Just an opinion, an allegory. My guess, eta dam breaking, at the current rate of erosion, 6-8 years.

 

[Khaotic]

Huh-WHA?

Ok, this just creeps me out....

Are you actually flaming these extremely rational, reasonable suggestions based on common sense - and equating some level of accountability for taser use with fascism ?

Please tell me I am misunderstanding you... please..

A Georgia police chiefs group is backing use of Taser stun guns but recommending tighter controls, better training and restrictions of sales to the public

I don't care for that last part, but tigher controls are necessary not only due to abuse, but also as a departmental defense against the inevitable lawsuits, caused in part by public perception of the Taser and it's recent history of abuse - more training might mitigate even that factor a little.

The committee concluded that the Taser is an appropriate and effective tool for law enforcement when used the proper way.

And I, personally, fully agree - while not too pleased with how it's been used by many, when properly used as a less-lethal option, or in lieu of a hands-on that could cause an officer to lose control of his sidearm, it's a damned good tool to have in the officers arsenal *(note)

The committee also noted that the Taser -- like any other weapon -- may be misused or abused.

Very common sense thing, and like firearms, accountability and training not only prevent mishaps, but also help insulate depts against inevitable lawsuits - the validity of which varies, but any of them have a negative impact on budget, and that means difficulty getting the job done right, right equipment, etc.

"The committee condemns the use of the electronic control weapon by law enforcement in the field as punishment or to cause pain."

The fact that they felt the *need* to say this, in combination with it's recent history, do in fact indicate that more training and oversight is required.
Without accountability, something like this will be misused a lot.

The report's recommendations include creating a Georgia Peace Officers Standards Training Council certification for Taser use and standardized Taser training at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

Not a bad idea at all, have a standardised course and an official training cert from, would not only help protect the dept from lawsuits, but would also help protect the officer in question from civil suits based on Taser useage.

Now, having stated these things... to hear someone consider actual accountability for a device that's been so misused that police departments might wind up banned from using it compared with fascism is offensive and downright scary.

And if 98% of Georgia LEO's believe they should not be accountable for the use of what is, all in all, a weapon ?
Remind me not to visit GA any time soon.

Please, please, please someone tell me I am hearing this wrong...

-K
*(note: Local officer recently used one on a loose dog threatening to bite him, because he did not want to have to shoot somebody's pet.)

 

[Coronach]

They're objecting, methinks, to the last part of that passage only- the "restriction of sales to the public."

Actually, the way Taser International has it set up is already pretty restricted. If you buy a Taser they keep a record of it, and if it gets used they'll tell the police who bought it. Hard to get more restrictive than that, without out-and-out banning sales.

Mike

 

[Khaotic]

Whew! thanks for the clarity, Coro!

A previous discussion left me a bit concerned about this.

As a side question, do zapguns and cattleprods, etc - fall under the same legal headings as a taser, or not.. or does it depend on locality ?

Just curious, as I know a couple elderly folks who carry some (pretty impressive, too!) zappers instead of a firearm.

-K

 

[centac]

""The committee condemns the use of the electronic control weapon by law enforcement in the field as punishment or to cause pain.""

The fact that they felt the *need* to say this, in combination with it's recent history, do in fact indicate that more training and oversight is required.
Without accountability, something like this will be misused a lot."

They "need" to say this for the same reason most boilerplate is written. If they dont "condemn" abuse someone will say that they tacitly "approve" abuse.

I dont know why people think that the Taser is subject to extraordinary levels of abuse. You hear of a few examples that may or may not be, but you never hear of the many times it is used without any complications. Anything can be misused, from a kubaton to a firearm. I havent seen any hard evidence that the Taser is misused any more than any other enforcement tool.

 

[1911 guy]

I agree

with centac on this one. I am reminded of a recent "news" article that portrayed the mean ol' fuzz joltin' a little tyke with a nasty tazer gun. Then I saw the video of an overgrown gradeschooler (yes, she was young) completely out of control. Insert images of kicking, hitting, biting, scratching, any other form of unarmed assault you can picture. Rather than backhanding her, which I feel would have been deserved if not PC, they tazered her once to stop resistance, then restrained her. This pushes all the buttons, tazers, kids, opportunity for missuse, etc. but I say two things about law enforcement. One, give them the tools and training to do their jobs. Two, visit Hell itself on them if they willfully abuse the authority and trust given to them.

 

[Vernal45]

Two, visit Hell itself on them if they willfully abuse the authority and trust given to them.

That almost never happens.

 

[Joejojoba111]

"A Georgia police chiefs group is backing use of Taser stun guns but recommending tighter controls, better training
and restrictions of sales to the public."

Why do people mind? I'm not planning on getting one, why should I care?

Anyway, let's break this down. Tighter controls, costs money. Better training, costs money. Restrict the public from owning, priceless. Which of these initiatives do You suppose is most likely to be implemented?

As for this "The
committee condemns the use of the electronic control weapon by law enforcement in the field as punishment or to cause pain."

I think it's a little wierd too. It's supposed to cause pain, hellooo. What do they think their joint manipulation classes are about?