Tasers for Portland Police...good idea? (apartment, felony, homes)

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Mark S.

Apparently Brunswick police already have tasers. There was an article in the paper a day or two ago where officers had to tase someone. Judging from the article, it sounds as if the guy had it coming.

They usually do.

[Syngar99]

Agreed.

[Mark S.]

Here is the article: The Times Record > Archives > News > WEB NEWS: Traffic stop gone bad results in Taser jolt

[diablogun]

That scum that the police blew away in Portland deserved precisely what he received; I am just happy it was him and not an officer who died.

You can rest assured that nobody wants to hurt someone who is not a threat to others on the police force; however, the reality is that there are a great many bad folks in the world that leave them no choice.

[diablogun]

Originally Posted by lookinforahome

I think the police having tasers is an excellent idea. I wonder, like dubthang I think also wonders, if the tragic shooting of that man by police recently could have been avoided if they had tasers.

It is highly unlikely it would have changed a thing. Only a suicidal officer would resort to a taser against a gun that is drawn on him. It is possible in less clear-cut cases such as with a knife from a good distance but even then I would not hesitate to drop the hammer on someone who was reasonably threatening my life.

[diablogun]

Originally Posted by Maineah

The Portland Police Department was recently approved to purchase a number of tasers to be issued to their officers. The numbers floated on the news and newspaper was something like $12,000 per unit. That seems steep though I suppose there is support, training, and some sort of replacement after the unit is fired. I'll be frank I don't like the idea of tasers. I believe they tend to make the police adopt a "shoot first" mentality. They can be used to diffuse a touchy ,potentially violent situation if used properly. Recent Youtube clips of an 85 yr old woman being tased after a traffic stop give me pause to wonder about the need for them. As always I'm interested in your take.

A someone who has pretty good knowledge in this area I would prefer the taser option most of the time to either spray or a baton. The taser allows one to immediately end a situation where violence may be imminent and protect the officer as well as the subject.

A baton can be very effective but will likely result in a lot of damage to the subject, and can sometimes prove ineffective if the suspect is wired or on drugs.

I personally dislike OC spray because it often gets on the user as well, and some folks are hardly affected by it. During a fight the officer can be incapacitated by its use.

If you have any questions ask away :-)

[dubthang]

Originally Posted by diablogun

That scum that the police blew away in Portland deserved precisely what he received; I am just happy it was him and not an officer who died.

You can rest assured that nobody wants to hurt someone who is not a threat to others on the police force; however, the reality is that there are a great many bad folks in the world that leave them no choice.

Originally Posted by diablogun

It is highly unlikely it would have changed a thing. Only a suicidal officer would resort to a taser against a gun that is drawn on him. It is possible in less clear-cut cases such as with a knife from a good distance but even then I would not hesitate to drop the hammer on someone who was reasonably threatening my life.

The guy that was shot was never found to be a threat to the officers or anybody else for that matter. He had a gun which resulted in the call to the cops, but he never pulled it on them when they showed up. The story changed after much negative flak from the public to say that the gun was being aimed at the officers. Regardless, I still am interested to see how things play out with tazers being added to the force.

[diablogun]

Originally Posted by dubthang

The guy that was shot was never found to be a threat to the officers or anybody else for that matter. He had a gun which resulted in the call to the cops, but he never pulled it on them when they showed up. The story changed after much negative flak from the public to say that the gun was being aimed at the officers. Regardless, I still am interested to see how things play out with tazers being added to the force.

Yes, I am sure that the officers shot him just because he was a threat to no one; indeed, I think he was actually mentoring a bible-study class at the time and had no record of violence or such. I think the officers must have just decided to execute him.

Or perhaps he was a lifelong scumbag who finally made the mistake of crossing the line he was so well acquainted with. Just maybe he was put down like the mad dog he was when he presented a reasonable threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officers? In any case, by quickly assuming room temperature he at least saved the taxpayers money in the long run.

[dubthang]

Originally Posted by diablogun

Yes, I am sure that the officers shot him just because he was a threat to no one; indeed, I think he was actually mentoring a bible-study class at the time and had no record of violence or such. I think the officers must have just decided to execute him.

Or perhaps he was a lifelong scumbag who finally made the mistake of crossing the line he was so well acquainted with. Just maybe he was put down like the mad dog he was when he presented a reasonable threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officers? In any case, by quickly assuming room temperature he at least saved the taxpayers money in the long run.

Don't defend your posts. This happend about 300 yards from my house. I heard the gun shots. I saw and heard the witnesses talk about the ruthless shooting that took place. Not one person said that he deserved it because he was threatening the officers. I worked for Public Sevices at the time so I also was privy to info that had yet to hit the media. There was no imediate threat spoken of at the time of the shooting. Did he have a gun? I'm sure he did, but I don't know what exactly went on at the scene.

[Huckleberry3911948]

dont know bout portland but on CDF community i seet 1/2 condemn the cops for using them other 1/2 for not.
safe bet is the people feel this is the cure ---
reproach the victim, sympathize with the perpetrator, jail the cop.