Why do we let the police continue to arrest people for non-violent, victimless “crimes” knowing that they are potentially going to kill the person trying to arrest them?

As to the amount of officers, that can be counterproductive sometimes unless they are all on the same general page. I believe someone posted how it defeats the purpose if one officer is pulling one way while another is pushing the opposite way. Completely correct.

All that being said, there was really nothing wrong with this video.

First off, yelling, “TASER , TASER, TASER!” is what we are trained to do. It’s simply to warn other officers on scene it is coming so they don’t get zapped. Looks like the guy with the taser was kind of doing it backwards, tho – hitting him with it then yelling. Hehe. ;)

I also would have liked to have seen him, after the second taser application, put it away and assist the other three officers there with apprehension or to have attempted some crowd control – those people in the back there started to get a little too close for comfort at that point.
As far as the force used, it was completely appropriate. The taser for a noncompliant subject, as we covered last week with grandma, is completely legit and acceptable. The strikes ARE legit and acceptable also.

To answer AP’s question – yes, it is fine to strike subjects in cases other than self defense under circumstances like this. Such strikes are called “compliance blows.” The pain of the blows is the device used to gain compliance from a subject. In this case, the guy looked to be sooooo cocked and was resisting to the degree that the blows to the shoulder were completely fine.

In using compliance blows, however, if possible an officer should think of how they might “look” to the general public – in this case, the crowd of drunkards standing around. They won’t know/care that what the cop is doing has a purpose and is legal – they’ll just see the cop hitting some drunk guy “for no reason.” If you’ll notice, that’s when the crowd really started to go a little nutty.

Looks like “pressure points” would have been a good thing to try with this guy – there are several areas you can simply apply pressure to in order to generate pain and gain compliance and they don’t look like you’re really doing anything to the guy. Again, I’m looking at this from a “cop bystander on video” position and wasn’t the one there with my hands on the guy. I LIKE to think I would have thought of pressure points rather than strikes, but cannot say for sure.

Verdict: Very, very good job overall by all officers, based on what should have been done in the U.S., of course.

Sincerely,
9 years on the job, supervisor, blah, blah, blah. . .

- The Cat

P.S. Danger! Danger! Danger! Tazer! Tazer! Tazer! Bring on the Remix

P.P.S. And one for the camera man

Poor Cheesy! Can’t find any RINO love on HotAir.

Contrary to what we see on TV, getting a person’s arms behind his back and into cuffing position is NOT easy to do. Try it sometime with a friend and see what happens when you actively resist. But um, make sure your health insurance is paid up first. It’s very easy to seriousely hurt someone without meaning it if you don’t know what you’re doing.

I’ve found my real dad!

MadisonConservative on June 18, 2009 at 1:09 AM

I’ve never met anyone anything like me in my whole life, so I don’t know what you’re talking about. But, I’d be happy to help you in any way I can. I’ve already told you my opinion of you.

Loxodonta on June 18, 2009 at 1:05 AM

I’ve found my real dad!

Yeah, I don’t know if I’d twitter about those you are frustrated with. It’s somewhat passive agressive, but isn’t this part of AP’s (current) flawed personality?

Upstater85 on June 17, 2009 at 11:36 PM

MadisonConservative on June 18, 2009 at 12:57 AM

I’ve never been much of an alcohol drinker. Alcoholics do it alone, and as I’ve rarely ever socialized, I never picked up social drinking. Everything I know or believe is simply from observation or reading and 200 old movies and a bit of old TV, but hardly anything from family or social interaction.

PBR?

Loxodonta on June 18, 2009 at 12:55 AM

You disappoint me.

Be off on your quest.

Only seen a few clips on line. Is that what I’m like?

Loxodonta on June 18, 2009 at 12:49 AM

Nah. I picture you more as Walt Kowalski in Gran Torino.

And if you actually are a PBR man, I salute you.

MadisonConservative on June 18, 2009 at 12:44 AM

Only seen a few clips on line. Is that what I’m like?

Is this a cultural reference I’m not getting? If I have to make a call, I go to the nearest pay phone. I lived this way for many years when I was young. I’ve been well-prepared for the Obama Depression.

Loxodonta on June 18, 2009 at 12:40 AM

South Park reference.

Have you paid taxes recently?

MadisonConservative on June 18, 2009 at 12:38 AM

Direct income taxes, not for a few years. Direct Sales and other indirect taxes, every time I make a purchase.

Then how do you call the cops when those durned kids keep skateboardin’ on the sidewalk???

MadisonConservative on June 18, 2009 at 12:33 AM

Is this a cultural reference I’m not getting? If I have to make a call, I go to the nearest pay phone. I lived this way for many years when I was young. I’ve been well-prepared for the Obama Depression.

I just realized the double entendre of my previous message and assure you I did not intend it. Good grief! Obama would fire me in a heartbeat if he stupid enough to hire me in the first place.

Loxodonta on June 18, 2009 at 12:36 AM

Have you paid taxes recently?

You’re out of the running, then.

MadisonConservative on June 18, 2009 at 12:25 AM

I just realized the double entendre of my previous message and assure you I did not intend it. Good grief! Obama would fire me in a heartbeat if he stupid enough to hire me in the first place.

I don’t have a phone.

Loxodonta on June 18, 2009 at 12:32 AM

Then how do you call the cops when those durned kids keep skateboardin’ on the sidewalk???

Upstater85 on June 18, 2009 at 12:31 AM

Have a good day tomorrow.

MadisonConservative on June 18, 2009 at 12:25 AM

I don’t have a phone. And down cushions feel and smell awful.