Deputy accidentally shoots man

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Cops in general seem to use the Taser as a way to get the job done quicker and easier rather than a means of self defense. A while ago, just outside Kitsap County, I had a situation where some deputies were arresting some Guatemalans for illegal brush-picking. When one woman turned and looked like she was about to run, a deputy Tasered her in the back. It wasn't until the next day that her family who were present realized that she hadn't been shot dead. This gal was around four feet tall and about that wide across- not about to set any speed records. Unfortunately, she disappeared after I got her released for lack of evidence- I wanted to sue the county for her.

Anyway, I suspect this was a case of "If I taser this guy we can finish this and get on to the next call rather than spending all shift talking him down." Not how I think Tasers were meant to be used.
 
I don't think the taser should be used as a compliance tool if they can use it whenever they feel like it. It seems to be used in place of strong language a lot now. Why raise my voice and try to talk someone out of this when I can just pull the trigger and have them trembling on the ground!
 
It seems to be used in place of strong language a lot now.
No disrespect intended, but when was the last time you attempted to "talk someone out of" whatever dangerously stupid -- posing a threat to themselves or others -- or illegal activity they were engaged in at the time ... when the individual happened to be [choose one] a person with numerous felony convictions in his or her past with a hatred toward law enforcement and normal citizens/mentally ill with documented violent behavior history/extremely intoxicated demonstrating violent behavior/on the third day of a huge tweaking binge, having turned totally psychotic, with a wicked meth addiction?
 
AmbulanceDriver said:
Well, here in Portland, officers carry their Tazer's on their weak side, in a thigh holster. Their Tazer's are BRIGHT yellow, and very easily differentiated from their duty weapons. Sounds like it's a training issue/equipment issue that just rose up to bite them in the butt (or leg, as the case may be).
I thought that was S.O.P. for any officer carrying a Taser. I can't even imagine a department having their officers wear the taser on the same side as the duty weapon.
 
I live in Mason county which is just south of Kitsap . The local sheriff dept answered a stolen car call at my next door neighbors place , I happened to noticed that the deputy wore his sidearm and taser on the same side , his service pistol on his belt and the taser in a thigh holster .. definitely NOT safe .
 
Hawkmoon and many others have posted about the Taser on the same side as the duty weapon....What the crap does that matter???
I have never used a taser, but I have handled one. The feel of it is nothing like a pistol. I would bet my left arm that if you blindfolded me and gave me 25 different tasers and 25 different "duty" weapons that I would be able to tell the difference every time.
Furthermore, this was not an honest mistake.
My example being that this is 2006, it is not the wild west. How often on average do you think that PO's are drawing, aiming, and firing their sidearm or taser sooooooooo quickly that they do not realize which is in their hand.??? Give me a break, this officer should lose her job and never be able to handle a firearm again. What would happen if this was a citizen like me your anyone else here? We would lose our right to own a firearm correct?
She went to her knee and was distraught, felt sorry, etc blah blah blah. Cry me a river, you are an idiot.
I dont care what her excuse may be. I will NEVER believe that she was....
1) on the ground first trying to talk him out of the tree
2) drew her sidearm, aimed it at him
3) advised him that he was going to be Tased if he did not come down (they are required to advise that they will tase you right??)
4) looking at him down the sights of her sidearm which she has probably fired 1000 times or more in practice
5) didnt notice that the sight line was extremely similar to that of her sidearm (she thought it was the taser right? :rolleyes: )
6) didnt notice the grip and trigger feel were extremely similar to her sidearm
7) probably warned him again that he was going to be tased
8) none of the witnesses said "hey cop, thats your gun not your taser"

Through all of this she still pulled the trigger and was completely surprised at the outcome?
Again, 100% negligence. She should never have been allowed to carry a firearm.
Someone said before that just because you want to be a cop doesn't mean you should be. I couldnt agree more. I hate to bring up another female but I remember seeing a video a while back where a female and male officer were standing over a handcuffed or ziptied goblin either sitting or laying on the pavement...
Her sidearm was still drawn but aimed at the street. It discharged, as so many pistols do on their own. :rolleyes: Was that an accident too?
Then somewhat recently there was that big black cop that shot himself in the leg in a CLASSROOM FULL OF CHILDREN. That wasnt an accident either. If you are not prepared to fire, get your damn finger out of the trigger guard. Furthermore in that incident, cop or not, why did he bring a loaded "chambered" weapon into a classroom??

Anyway, i am 32 yrs old and have been shooting as long as I can remember. Not once, EVER has a gun in my hands discharged without me pulling the trigger. Either I'm very lucky, or it just doesnt happen accidently.

Sorry for the rant. I know not all cops are bad but it just doesnt give me a warm fuzzy feeling that people like her are out protecting the public as a whole.

Andy
 
One more thing. I didnt want to edit my last post.....

Why exactly is the sidearm and taser on the same side unsafe? A good friend of mine is a cop and he has the sidearm in a hip holster and the taser in a thigh holster. Correct me if i'm wrong but, my thigh is well below my hip. Far enough past my hip, that a reach for a weapon in a thigh holster would have to be deliberate.

Look at it this way...I've been carrying my wallet in my right rear pants pocket for 20+ years. Suit, jeans, khakis, shorts, etc...all in my right rear pocket. If i reached in any of the 3 other large pockets and pulled something out, I would know for sure it wasnt my wallet.
To be more specific....If i'm wearing some cargo khakis, and reached in the cargo pocket on the thigh......i know what I pull out will not be my wallet!

Does that make sense or should I not be posting at 3:52 am est.

Andy
 
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