WFAA INVESTIGATIVE REPORT TONIGHT AT 10 P.M. - SMU PLAYERS!

[jtstang]

That article sure reads like DPD is circling the wagons.

[Hoofprint]

I have a friend in law enforcement who said that in order to use a taser, he had to be tasered himself .... to let him know what it feels like, so he wouldn't go nuts with the thing on every jaywalker he sees, etc. If what you say is true, Stallion, that one guy is way too trigger-happy with his taser, perhaps he needs a refresher course on what it feels like. I hope that number (25 percent) is inaccurate. If it is, that sounds like someone who gets some sort of twisted joy out of inflicting pain.

[MrMustang1965]

Is this the same cop that WFAA previously reported is personally responsible for about 25% of the entire recorded taser incidents in the entire department? Can't remember the exact details but this is one cop that appeared to be out of control.

Yes, it is.

mr. pony wrote:

Yeah, but the cops might get fired. That's popular now.

If the cops are 'fired' they will have the right to appeal it. And chances are pretty good that they'll be re-instated and back on the streets again.

Tasers are considered 'less than lethal' weapons. Don't let anyone tell you that they're 'non-lethal'. That's wrong. A taser can kill someone, too. Because of the public outcry over the number of fatal officer-involved shootings over the years, law enforcement had to find some other way to disable suspects besides shooting them with a gun. Tasers, at this time, are the answer.

While I do not condone the actions of these officers, stop and think for a minute. If they weren't carrying tasers, this story might be about two SMU football players who were shot - perhaps fatally - by officers carrying 9mm handguns instead of tasers.

It's apparent that there are some officers in the Dallas Police Department who need some serious psychological counseling and some 'time off' the streets and sitting behind a desk.

[McClown27]

I am just happy that the DMN is covering us again.

It seems that UT's police blotter hasn't hurt their recruiting.

[mrydel]

I am just happy that the DMN is covering us again.

It seems that UT's police blotter hasn't hurt their recruiting.

Nor that pesky National Championship

[mr. pony]

[quote="MrMustang1965"]If they weren't carrying tasers, this story might be about two SMU football players who were shot - perhaps fatally - by officers carrying 9mm handguns instead of tasers.

No, I don't think these cops would have blown somebody away with a 9mm over this. There are always nightsticks. They used the tasers, I think, precisely because they knew, if used properly, they would NOT kill. Some of these cops may indeed be a little trigger happy with these things, thinking they're basically harmless, but painful.

[that's great raplh]

y'all are missing the bright side...if D can take a taser shot, you think he is gonna be afraid of a linebacker?

[Longtime]

I believe choke holds and nightstick beatings are why tasers were added to police arsenals, not the use of firearms. Cops weren't whipping out guns just to take down drunks and unruly suspects, but sometimes they had to beat the hell out of them just to get cuffs on. Now, they just zap them.

The officer who was responsible for 25% of certain incidents on Lower Greenville was cited for pepper balls, not tasers. He was getting too trigger-happy with the pepper ball gun. By the way, a young lady died in the Red Sox World Series celebration when a cop shot her in the eye with a pepper ball.

And while Martin and Turner came off well in the report, the thing that raised my eyebrows was that Martin grabbed the officer to get his attention. Bad move, bro.

You NEVER touch a cop, especially one breaking up a bar fight in front of a bar crowd. This doesn't excuse the officer's overreaction, but the cop was in an agitated state to begin with. And as Turner demonstrated, he didn't just tap the officer on the shoulder, he grabbed him. Big mistake.

Martin's intentions were apparently innocent, but you don't touch a cop. Ever.

[Lefty]

Well said, longtime.

[MrMustang1965]

I believe choke holds and nightstick beatings are why tasers were added to police arsenals, not the use of firearms. Cops weren't whipping out guns just to take down drunks and unruly suspects, but sometimes they had to beat the hell out of them just to get cuffs on. Now, they just zap them.

The officer who was responsible for 25% of certain incidents on Lower Greenville was cited for pepper balls, not tasers. He was getting too trigger-happy with the pepper ball gun. By the way, a young lady died in the Red Sox World Series celebration when a cop shot her in the eye with a pepper ball.

And while Martin and Turner came off well in the report, the thing that raised my eyebrows was that Martin grabbed the officer to get his attention. Bad move, bro.

You NEVER touch a cop, especially one breaking up a bar fight in front of a bar crowd. This doesn't excuse the officer's overreaction, but the cop was in an agitated state to begin with. And as Turner demonstrated, he didn't just tap the officer on the shoulder, he grabbed him. Big mistake.

Martin's intentions were apparently innocent, but you don't touch a cop. Ever.

Longtime: I'm a former civilian employee of the Houston Police Department. I was very involved in the discussions that the department had about the use of tasers.

In Houston, tasers were implemented because of the number of fatal officer-involved shootings in that department. And that is the case in most of the law enforcement departments around the country. The public outcry over people being shot had to be answered with an alternative.

Chokeholds are now illegal because of the number of deaths and critical injuries that resulted. If an officer is properly trained in the use of a baton, it can be effective. However, many officers will pull their service weapon first because they're not sure if the person they're trying to arrest has a weapon - sometimes hidden - in their possession. There are too many officers who have made that fatal mistake in the past.

You are correct about NEVER touching an officer. Frankly, I'm surprised Martin and/or Turner didn't get the crap beat out of them along with getting the taser shot.

In the report Martin says that he no longer trusts the police. I sympathize with that. I hope that he'll realize that one 'bad apple' does not represent all police officers.

[smu diamond m]

I believe choke holds and nightstick beatings are why tasers were added to police arsenals, not the use of firearms. Cops weren't whipping out guns just to take down drunks and unruly suspects, but sometimes they had to beat the hell out of them just to get cuffs on. Now, they just zap them.

The officer who was responsible for 25% of certain incidents on Lower Greenville was cited for pepper balls, not tasers. He was getting too trigger-happy with the pepper ball gun. By the way, a young lady died in the Red Sox World Series celebration when a cop shot her in the eye with a pepper ball.

And while Martin and Turner came off well in the report, the thing that raised my eyebrows was that Martin grabbed the officer to get his attention. Bad move, bro.

You NEVER touch a cop, especially one breaking up a bar fight in front of a bar crowd. This doesn't excuse the officer's overreaction, but the cop was in an agitated state to begin with. And as Turner demonstrated, he didn't just tap the officer on the shoulder, he grabbed him. Big mistake.

Martin's intentions were apparently innocent, but you don't touch a cop. Ever.

Not to mention, Martin et al are not small guys. The cop[s] could've already been a bit intimidated. A lapse of better judgement, and the officer tased him out of caution.

I bet that's how the officer puts it.

[MrMustang1965]

A lapse of better judgement, and the officer tased him out of caution.

I bet that's how the officer puts it.

The DPD's official statement is: 'The officers, fearing for their safety, blah, blah, blah..."