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Taser Reality
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Numerous newspaper editors and columnists acting as "Monday morning quarterbacks" have recently opined on the perceived excessive use of tasers by police officers. However, the use of tasers has substantially cut down severe injuries to suspects and officers alike (and I am sure even the deaths of suspects on drugs who overexert, etc.). We must not forget that all a suspect has to do to not be tasered is to comply with the police officer's commands. In addition, I think one should exercise extreme caution in their viewpoint on tasers unless they have had to grapple with a suspect who did not want to be arrested or detained. It is not easy under any circum-stances and anyone who has been there knows that. Even a small woman screaming and kicking and clawing can give you a fit. No matter how many officers are on scene at best only two or three can fight with a suspect at the same time (the rest just get in the way) and often you do not have the time to delay as a crowd is gathering. There is also nothing in the rulebook that says an officer is supposed to go home each night all bruised and skinned up let alone seriously injured. Use of force continuums vary across the country but the following is one utilized by many police departments. Critics need to keep in mind that depending on the situation you can go from officer presence to deadly force immediately: Officer presence/uniform Verbal Commands Pepper Spray/Taser Control techniques/Hard Hands Impact Weapons Deadly Force As you can see, the use of pepper spray and/or tasers is tactically allowed BEFORE you have to lay hands on someone to take them into custody. This of course will vary depending on the situation but it must be an option. Critics must also remember that when fighting someone you almost always have to throw them to the ground; you have to get them off their feet especially if you are by yourself. This can cause major injury to the suspect as well as the officer and the use of a taser can of course mitigate this. Editors and columnists would be wise to become familiar with Dr. George L. Kirkham, Professor of Criminology, at Florida State University. For years he was a very liberal professor who taunted his criminology students (many who where police officers) regarding their tactics. They finally goaded him into becoming a sworn police officer for several months. Once he had to face real life situations on the street, he did a complete 180 turnaround and wrote a book about his experiences. The following is an internet article entitled "A Professor's Street Lessons" which is very enlightening: http://www.policensw.com/info/history/kirkham1.html In conclusion, tasers are in fact often the best method to use for a suspect who is failing to comply with verbal commands. It's always the suspect's decision. The worst thing that could happen to both suspects and police officers is to over regulate or ban the use of tasers.
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