reply to post by dgtempe
I think they need to institute a system where anytime they draw the tazer (even if they don't shoot it) they have to fill out a report AND maybe go
before a board of civilian and IAD to explain their use.
IOW, keep it easy to use over a gun, but make it administratively VERY difficult and onerous to use.
In a system like that the cop wouldn't hesitate to taze if the situation REALLY called for it, but due to their hatred of administrative review and
lots of paperwork, wouldn't draw it for trivial or anger reasons.
Of course they'd find ways around that, but in the cases where we have it on film, they couldn't deny it. Thus the real deterrent would be:
1. not backed for trivial use by upper mgmt (I suspect the reverse is true)
2. lots of cameras around now-a-days virtually guarantee everything caught on video.
Just like I think the cameras in the squad cars have done a lot to help curb the somewhat natural urge for aggression on the part of the cops.
(Parenthetically, I think a big step is recognizing that this 'aggro response' does occur in normal people. You chase some nut in your car for 10
miles and see if you don't want to kick his butt when you get him stopped. They can take classes and learn how to see and deal with this.)
2 cents.
[edit on 31-10-2007 by Badge01]
