Tasers, but a Good or Bad Thing?
- Every police officer responding to a call now has access to a Taser, the Chicago Police Department said this week.
The department has spent the last few months training officers how to use the devices.
“The expansion of Tasers is part of CPD’s goal to create the safest environment possible for police officers and the citizens they serve,” according to a department statement.
- Most of us remember a time when law enforcement was a simpler profession. Back in the day, an officer went on the street with a sidearm, a baton, a pair of handcuffs and a radio on his belt. In the squad car, there was a radio to communicate with dispatch and other officers. If you needed to make a phone call, you went to a payphone and radioed in the last four numbers of the phone you were at.
If you wanted to meet up with another officer, you either had to call him over the air or drive around until you found him or her. It was a simpler time and somehow, even with the lack of all the accessories we have today, we got the job done.
If there was a conflict with an aggressive subject, we had four options: verbal commands, hands on, the baton as a leverage tool or strike weapon, and deadly force. The use of force “continuum” was taught because it was clear which tool was acceptable based on the level of resistance. All of that has changed.
The rest of the article walks us through the advent of OC Spray and then Electronic Control Weapons, ending with a discussion on whether or not Officers have too many weapons at their disposal and if this is leading to (A) mistakes and (B) hesitation that costs an officer time to make a good decision - or even his/her life.
It's worth a read and a serious discussion.
It's worth a read and a serious discussion.
Labels: info for the police
posted by SCC at 12:05 AM
55 Comments:
Tasers have been known to cause heart attacks and death in less than healthy young individuals. Taser some middle aged thug, he dies and you/cops get blamed as much as if you had shot him. Stay fetal, stay safe.
Very simple and great days SCC. Couple of pistols, cuffs, and extra ammo. I had a partner in Tac that was one bad ass fucker then anyone I ever encountered, carried an ax handle, the long one, and a two shot 45 caliber derringer. We had no vests and homicides were at 1000 a year, (modern medicine saves many a mutt today)Funny as hell.
These poor patrol guys have to carry 50 pounds of shit on their belt. Most of the young copper' of today are in great shape and will live longer then us baby boomer coppers of old.
Let's think about this.....
••• The department is releasing EVERY SINGLE video involving a use of force/open investigation.
••• The department is giving everyone a tazer.
Let's sit back and watch these soft in the head coppers cry about being on the news and jammed up for a "clean tazing"
READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL PEOPLE! Keep your jobs and pensions, provide for your families. Don't be the next sacrificial lamb in the name of "transparency" to the community.
I see fewer and fewer arrests made unless "Joe Citizen" is the complainant.
Let them shoot up, snort up, drink till they can't walk and kill themselves.
Why should a cop get involved when the very next morning the cop is stripped and second guessed by every liberal, activist, politician and lawyer just for trying to maintain the peace and bring civilization to an otherwise stunted segment of Chicago's population?
There are certain communities in Chicago that break the law so often that it has become second nature to the point like breathing air. They do it as a natural occurrence, not realizing anymore that their unlawful actions are in fact unlawful. And then the communities want to challenge the police for forcing them to abide by the law resulting in them refusing to obey a lawful to desist their unlawful conduct, resisting arresting and/or attacking the cops. The lack of a moral compass is what breeds this cancer for perpetuity. It's a shame that there are some trapped within these communities.
"If you needed to make a phone call, you went to a payphone and radioed in the last four numbers of the phone you were at..."
...back before a drug dealer became permanently attached to every pay phone to the point that Ma Bell had to cut the pay phones from accepting incoming calls.
Remember "Transfer! Transfer! Gimme transfer!" Again -- to the point that decent people, and I mean sweet little old ladies -- began to pick up this behavior and just quietly hand each other their transfers that still had a ride. THAT scared the CTA, and they cut the paper transfers.
Gimme cigarette, match, fifty cent, ink pen, hand lotion, plastic cup, ice in plastic cup. The World As Vending Machine. One God-damned all-day-and-night, aggressive street-hanging nuisance after another...
I'm running out of room on my belt. It's uncomfortable sitting in the car and that is compounded by all of the speed bumps and potholes . Why don't they just mount all these new tools in the car . When you get out to handle a job you choose the tool most likely to be needed . The people who make us wear all this equipment watched too much tv as children .
The new tasers are way too big. There is no need for the double barreled taser. Whoever thought that the city should go with this bigger taser clearly doesn't have to wear it on the street everyday.
The best thing is to just stay completely fetal, and stay safe. In any confrontation the police will always come in last in the court of public and media opinion.
The only problem with Tasers is that now "arrestees" will have another thing to complain about.
"He TAZED me too much."
"I shouldn't have been TAZED."
"They TAZED me 7 times."
"I was an Honor Student, and I got TAZED."
"I was turning my life around, and I still got TAZED."
Just don't think that Tasers are the "universal solution" to resistance to police.
Kids are NOT being taught to obey a police officer's command. If a cop says stop - STOP. If a cop says drop it - DROP IT.
"Stop it and Drop it" should be taught in schools. Sound corny?
Adding that to CPS curriculum would not cost a dime, just a couple of minutes a day - just like saying the Pledge. Maybe all these "concerned" parents and reverends could say this as well at home and church. And what about the useless Chicago Media? They could reinforce this as well.
Kids grow up with a real negative attitude towards police and many adults reinforce that in their lives. Let's change that.
Stupid idea??
What's YOUR plan? Another Bullshit program that costs Millions of $$? Another rifle in the car that only shoots tranquilizer bullets, so it is another non-lethal option?
This state doesn't have Millions. It doesn't even have a couple of nickels.
The opening statement is another lie. Not every officer has access to a taser. The department is very short on tasers. Every night we have to come back in after 3-4 hours of our shift to get our tasers. So, nearly half the shift every day we are working without them. Just like vehicles there aren't enough tasers for overlapping shifts. Dumb! Also, per general order we also can not "spark" test them for safety because that is only allowed in the first hour of the tour. Even though we are getting them late we still can't do it(and yes I checked with the range on this.) Again stupid and unsafe but typical CPD fashion. This if fact and happening city wide I'm sure.
Soooooooo glad I retired!
The job's not getting easier. Since department training sucks , we must seek it out and pay for it ourselves. When driving to a job, I usually think of the worse situation I will face. Happily, it's never as bad as I think it could be.
Appleton Wi officer shot recently as well as a good samararitan when her taser was ineffective against violent attacker. The taser while useful in some cases wasn't in this case. Luckily officer and good sanaritan survived and the offender is taking a permanent dirt nap.
Tasers? But a shortage of holsters for them..
Tasers work.
Anonymous said...
The new tasers are way too big. There is no need for the double barreled taser. Whoever thought that the city should go with this bigger taser clearly doesn't have to wear it on the street everyday.
6/03/2016 02:11:00 AM
The bigger the taser the more they cost. The more they cost, the more profit they get. The more profit they get, the more kickbacks they give. It's typical Chicago economics. You didn't really think that they give a fuck about you, did you???
All this stuff on an officer's belt is going to lead to back problems. How many guys have to wear suspenders to hold up their guy belt now? It gives the offender an edge during a struggle also. An officer has to protect a firearm, taser, and mace during a struggle. All this to ensure that democratic voters are appeased.
I throw it in the glove box. I don't have anymore room on my belt for more crap.
Yea right, lets train everyone, but only make a few tasers available.
We may not need them stay in the car watching my new DVD player look at this "Chicago police will not increase patrols after massive beach brawl:
http://abc7chicago.com/news/cpd-wont-increase-patrols-after-massive-beach-brawl/1369699/
You can't make this shit up! Taxpayers spending over 100 million dollars on overtime in thug infested non-tax paying anti-police areas but the beaches no patrols? What do we need a shooting or som innocent girl getting robbed running into traffic on lake shore drive and getting killed? Maybe shootings on the drive? Wait sorry you're on your own advice carry concealed police cannot protect you anymore it's the Wild West! If you go to beach towel check,sunscreen check, snacks check, pistol extra clips check! Close the beaches they are done! What idiot would say after an incident like this a "heater" news making event no increase in the patrols? They need to be terminated immediately!
As far as I know not one person has been fired or taken serious time for a tasering. That should tell you something.
Now they pat you on the ass when you take down a guy with a knife with a taser. So be a good little robot and risk your life just to make the Politicians happy. Or even shoot the other guys gun out of his hand. I mean why not? Why do you have to kill him?
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=26e_1463339798
What happen to the good old 12guage shotgun!
As TASERs become more popular, more incidents will like this occur...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uHBQq5N0jE
OK. Sidearm, magazines, ASP, OC, maybe a Taser, everything else -- now add a shotgun AND a beanbag shotgun!
...as seen in the recent UCLA campus shooting...
https://tinyurl.com/jzxcm2q
Just wait till someone dies from it then you won't need to sign one out every night.
Pepper Spray, better, and cheaper
(OT) then you have here city releasing videos of over 100 police shootings and "other incidents:"
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chicago-police-videos-release-met-20160602-story.html
How about releasing all the videos of the thug attacks? The illegal invaders killing and maiming the mayhem caused by these terrorist groups? What is the matter with you elected idiots? We know rahm you have 24/7 armed valets and storm through our streets in your extremely not fuel efficient "rolling thunder" black suburbans as quickly as you can! What about the innocent people trapped in these areas sir without protection mayor? what about that? What about that? Don't blame the police rahm you and your friends have caused police to be in self preservation mode!
Now rahm these videos, hot summer can you smell the fuel? Are you igniting another massive flame inciting people sir?
Then you have the beach mayhem and your refusing to increase patrols?
http://abc7chicago.com/news/cpd-wont-increase-patrols-after-massive-beach-brawl/1369699/
So let us understand pro-active policing is dead as we once knew it,and now you want to completely eliminate reactive policing correct? Please mayor give the police and the residents the rules and a scorecard the SS Chicago is rapidly turning portside we have taken on so much water we are almost sunk! The only hope we have is change in presidential leadership and looks like the only person that is military and law enforcement astute is Trump!
My Brothers and sisters wear Blue,and do the job that many fear to do, now though the fetal police are what we have to be unless we want our world spun upside down by inept leadership (yes gold star club its you, strange Eddie gets in and everything there stays the same,same clowns same circus massive demotions Eddie, start with examscam2016). #bluelivesmattermorethanever
pre 1970 you only had a radio in the car. Out of the car you were on your own. That's when I learned the four basic forms of control. #1 respect good luck with that one #2 fear of what was gonna happen if you resisted. #3 pain and #4death. You guys today got a problem they don't respect you fear you and you cant give good old #3 pain. Old retired guy south side.
Take is from a career employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA Police have had TASERS for years. A gigantic problem you will face is not knowing what sort of pharmaceutical load the person you are facing has on board. Stopping a doped up crazy is just one problem, but somebody right at the edge of an overdose, which is most loadies, that TASER jolt can be what puts them over the edge and kills them. You all know the narrative than. The Grandma with the weave hair hat say'n how he was a good boy. You cannot win.
Not a Leo, but I feel (B) is the appropriate answer'
(B) hesitation that costs an officer time to make a good decision - or even his/her life.
There's a shit-load of lawyers awaiting cases from criminals and criminal families who were tased. Tasing will not be any different than officer's protecting themselves by using guns.
More importantly, the extra time to prepare a taser, and/or chose the necessary weapon. places officers' lives at risk.
The weight of 'tools and tasers' impedes an officer pursuing a fleeing offender.
Stay as fetal as possible. Watch your backs, 'drive-by' the thugs shooting each other.
Excited Delirium is a coined non-medical term from Taser Intl. The AMA does not recognize it.
3:27 am hit the nail on the head. The honor students will complain that they were tazed-next thing you know, they will want to sue because you stepped on their toe.
Just heard that a few honor students were around Belmont Harbor at 2 PM IN THE AFTERNOON throwing bikes to distract people on the path, then robbing them (I ride my bike through there). So done with this God-forsaken town.
--No Cop Here
Whoever is whining about the taser being too big has obviously never had to reload under duress. That second cartridge could save your ass.
My father, Revolversaurus Sr., routinely carried a blackjack (compliance enhancement tool), brass knuckles, some mini bibles and a box of large wound band aids. He made sure that any resistant or noncompliant individual could clearly see his immediate options. He rarely used either the sap or the knuckles. This approach and the introduction of his partner PO Toxie Hall helped to keep the "Gardens" under control. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. Rip Officer Hall and dad.
Interesting question. Let's say the Taser supply problems get solved. Is it then still a good thing to carry both the Taser and OC spray around everywhere, or does it make sense to leave the spray in the car except when a need for it is anticipated?
In their statement the department mentions "the safety of the officers and the citizens they serve"
Who do they think they're bullshitting? It's got nothing to do with the safety of officers but everything to do with pandering to "the community".
I agree we are short on the Tasers, but you can spark test them now within the first hour of any tour of duty, and for up to 5 seconds (you only need 2 seconds,no need to push it----if you go to 6 seconds, you gotta fill out a non-field deployment report, which really is no big deal other than a pain in the neck).
No one said it better on the earlier post....
"Gimme cigarette, match, fifty cent, ink pen, hand lotion, plastic cup, ice in plastic cup. The World As Vending Machine. One God-damned all-day-and-night, aggressive street-hanging nuisance after another..."
The World As Their Vending Machine.
Well said!!
P.Valium
Anonymous Anonymous said...
All this stuff on an officer's belt is going to lead to back problems. How many guys have to wear suspenders to hold up their guy belt now? It gives the offender an edge during a struggle also. An officer has to protect a firearm, taser, and mace during a struggle. All this to ensure that democratic voters are appeased.
6/03/2016 08:01:00 AM
It already has lead to back problems.
In my district we've got numerous officers that have been on for 20 plus years that have back problems from wearing all that gear.
I'm in my mid 50's and have been on 30 years and definitely have a balky back.
I came on in the days when there were only car radios and you had to warm them up. But, we carried blackjacks and they worked very well. When I went to 005, the commander there, Briggs, banned all officers from using OC spray, even though it was issue. That was an interesting place to work. Briggs did not give a damn and the midnight watch commander, who was a lieutenant and his friend the sergeant, went to Indiana every night fishing and did not return until time to go home. If you were white you were not well received.
Funny I don't have a taser we have 12 in the whole district, you do the math!
Tasers are going to be a thing of the past in the near future. HQ has just about got this magical list thing down pat and rumor has it that a magic wand will be introduced in short order!
It is really time to step back and do a "Blue Flu" with all this anti-police rhetoric!
So now tasers are the answer? A couple drug addicts die after being tased and tasers became killing tools, now it's different? Here's an idea, shitheads stop committing crimes. Then you won't need to be tased or shot. Be decent productive people, that's the answer. God help us if Hillary is elected, the entire US will be killing fields.
Taser should always be backed up with a lethal cover officer.....
"The more you have on your belt...the less you have in your head."
– W.K. 25:10
Think about it.
Stay fetal.
Also, per general order we also can not "spark" test them for safety because that is only allowed in the first hour of the tour. Even though we are getting them late we still can't do it(and yes I checked with the range on this.) Again stupid and unsafe but typical CPD fashion. This if fact and happening city wide I'm sure.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Umm. Just fill out the non field deployment and do your spark test 4 hrs into the tour. As long as it's documented, no biggie. Take your time, an extra 10 minutes of paper each nite amounts to about an hour a week of not being on ipra's video site.
Try to see the bright side !
“The expansion of Tasers is part of CPD’s goal to create the safest environment possible for police officers and the citizens they serve,” according to a department statement.
If the "citizens" want a safe environment, all they have to do is NOT fight with the Police.
If you carry the TASER, watch the video on NETFLIX called "Killing Them Safely." It's a documentary that is very critical of TASER corp and covers the lawsuits against the company and shows several TASER deployments gone wrong. The take away points, TASERS can kill certain people. We can't tell which ones. If your on camera during a TASER incident, express concern for the safety of the offender who has been tased. DON'T talk about lighting a person up before you get to the scene. You'll look terrible trying to explain it away. I still carry mine, but know a lot more about it than I did before.
Wear MOLLE vest! Everything is on there! Also wear Bianchi nylon belt a lot lighter than that dumb leather belt and it doesn't cut into your circulation and nerves! With only gun, taser, and oc on my belt my waist feels free! When you sit, the legs and pelvis push the vest up to give shoulder relief! It make look tacky but it's given me lots if relief from my sciatica.
"There is more law in the end of a policeman's nightstick than in a decision of the Supreme Court."
Lt. Alexander "Clubber" Williams, NYPD, 1898
"The best way to enforce the law is a .45 slug in the gut."
Texas Ranger Frank Hamer who killed 53 bad guys during his 33 year career as a Texas Ranger, including Bonnie & Clyde.
"I still carry mine, but know a lot more about it than I did before."
6/03/2016 11:37:00 PM
Keep in mind that the cartridges contain confetti that is micro-printed with a unique number corresponding to that of the round. Whole scene gets confettied, and they know who shot off what.
Very good post. I hope it starts a dialogue.
Take taser training and then tell me the use. Anyone who has shot in stressful situations knows that having the ability to shoot those pronngs above the belt and in leg to incapacitate someone puts your life in jeopardy. Its not tv your life is on line
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