Oh the joys of the taser gun.
"No evidence" (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2005/09/22/Edmonton_taser_police.html)
"In 2002, complaints were filed accusing a constable of repeatedly firing a Taser at Randy Fryingpan while the 16-year-old was passed out drunk in the back of a friend's car.
A judge described the incident as cruel and unusual punishment and an abuse of the use of force.
But Da Costa said there was no evidence to support the allegations."
Good thing there are 'internal investigations' that can clear things like this up. Oh yeah, and good thing Randy's aboriginal. But in another case, they couldn't quite wiggle out of it:Tasered while in custody (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/09/06/taser-ab.html)
And then the more recent, Tasered for jaywalking. (http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/04/28/4137054-sun.html) Mind you, the victim in this case was the son of a retired city detective, so perhaps glossing over the incident wasn't possible.
But apparently, a taser is better than a cup of coffee when you need a good way to wake someone up:
But...they were suspects... (http://mostlywater.org/officer_not_guilty_of_assault_in_taser_wake_up) Two drunk indians in a downtown dive...not enough evidence to believe their story, even though the cop admitted to it.
I wonder if the charges only stick when the tasering victim is:
a) white
b) and craps in his pants as a result.
Cluichstan
03-05-2007, 17:54
Randy Fryingpan? That's the kinda name they'd use for a character in a Monty Python sketch.
Randy Fryingpan? That's the kinda name they'd use for a character in a Monty Python sketch.
Hey, better than Elijah Brokenhead:D I blame it on the US aboriginals...they translated their names into English and came up with some just...horrible results. Generally in Canada, either we adopted surnames in our own languages, or took other names rather than messing things up with crazy translations.
Cluichstan
03-05-2007, 17:56
Hey, better than Elijah Brokenhead:D
True, very true. :D
Compulsive Depression
03-05-2007, 18:00
Randy Fryingpan? That's the kinda name they'd use for a character in a Monty Python sketch.
Especially when, in Britain, "randy" is a synonym for "horny" :D
/me asserts that having tasers reduces the amount of calories the coppers burn compared to good, old-fashioned truncheon-based brutality, increasing the incidence of obesity in policemen.
Hey, they have to work off all those doughnut calories somehow!
Remote Observer
03-05-2007, 18:01
Here in the US, the taser is used far more often than pepper spray.
While it can be used irresponsibly, they are responsible for radical drops in the injury rate of both civilians and police alike.
Suing for damages is getting harder and harder here - it has an ever improving track record, especially the latest models.
You're far more likely to be injured if the police beat you, or use pepper spray.
One thing that seems to reduce police misbehavior in this regard is the video camera. The traffic stops are conducted in view of the camera in the police car.
In the UK, they are experimenting with CCTV mounted on the officer - so where they go, the camera goes.
It would probably make abuse occur less often.
Oh, and here in the US, plenty of white people get tasered. Often, the police show the video to defend their use of the taser.
Well, you're less likely (http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr200022004) to die of a light truncheoning.
Bloody abuse of power... It needs to be stopped, and not just for the "white boys".
http://www.freesmileys.org/emo/ad/nono.gif
Cluichstan
03-05-2007, 18:05
Well, you're less likely (http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr200022004) to die of a light truncheoning.
A light truncheoning? Since when do cops just tap people with their nightsticks?
Lacadaemon
03-05-2007, 18:06
Well, you're less likely (http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr200022004) to die of a light truncheoning.
That's only because lax recruitment standards mean that most cops can no longer give you a proper truncheoning.
Here in the US, the taser is used far more often than pepper spray.
While it can be used irresponsibly, they are responsible for radical drops in the injury rate of both civilians and police alike.
Suing for damages is getting harder and harder here - it has an ever improving track record, especially the latest models.
You're far more likely to be injured if the police beat you, or use pepper spray.
One thing that seems to reduce police misbehavior in this regard is the video camera. The traffic stops are conducted in view of the camera in the police car.
I agree, that evidence of the event seems to be key. Even in egregious situations of abuse, the cases are often thrown out because there is just enough of a shadow of a doubt to aquit. Eye-witnesses, or recordings seem to be the turning point in many of these cases. In one sense, it's why I support the use of video surveillance on party strips like our Whyte Ave. But then again...the witnesses from that area are more likely to be believed than those in the inner city anyway.
In the UK, they are experimenting with CCTV mounted on the officer - so where they go, the camera goes. That's an interesting concept...I think it's a fine idea.
It would probably make abuse occur less often.
Oh, and here in the US, plenty of white people get tasered. Often, the police show the video to defend their use of the taser.
Plenty of white people get tasered here too. My point was that in most cases the cops are acquitted when the victim was either poor, and/or aboriginal. Here. Then again, Edmonton has a long history of racism against aboriginals.
A light truncheoning? Since when do cops just tap people with their nightsticks?
I was being facetious.
"Yes, hello, I'd like a coffee and a light truncheoning, thanks!"
You were supposed to look at the Amnesty International report :D
Remote Observer
03-05-2007, 18:08
Well, you're less likely (http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr200022004) to die of a light truncheoning.
Your link shows nothing of the kind.
They are also quite effective as a replacement for lethal force, which undoubtably saves lives:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/pdf/tasergraphic.pdf
More sucessful at subduing people who are drugged up, without having to beat the shit out of them:
http://www.iacp.org/research/CuttingEdge/TaserIntlReport.pdf
For something that when used, has an efficacy over 95%, and also fails to injure over 98% of its targets, if you compare that to a baton, well - you can't.
You would likely have to beat someone down with a baton - injuring them.
Imperial isa
03-05-2007, 18:15
A light truncheoning? Since when do cops just tap people with their nightsticks?
when did they get glow in the dark sticks
Your link shows nothing of the kind. Bah, I wasn't actually intending to compare the two (a truncheoning to a tasering).
They are also quite effective as a replacement for lethal force, which undoubtably saves lives:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/dayart/pdf/tasergraphic.pdf
More sucessful at subduing people who are drugged up, without having to beat the shit out of them:
http://www.iacp.org/research/CuttingEdge/TaserIntlReport.pdf
For something that when used, has an efficacy over 95%, and also fails to injure over 98% of its targets, if you compare that to a baton, well - you can't.
You would likely have to beat someone down with a baton - injuring themI'm less concerned with tasers being used in possibly lethal situations, than with gratuitous 'jaywalking' or 'caught you breaking into a hourse' or 'hey got you in custody take THAT!' taserings. They can be justified in the former. Not in the latter.
Remote Observer
03-05-2007, 18:21
Bah, I wasn't actually intending to compare the two (a truncheoning to a tasering).
I'm less concerned with tasers being used in possibly lethal situations, than with gratuitous 'jaywalking' or 'caught you breaking into a hourse' or 'hey got you in custody take THAT!' taserings. They can be justified in the former. Not in the latter.
Like I said, put a camera on your police. It will make them behave.
Like I said, put a camera on your police. It will make them behave.
Can we make them look like dog collars? I like that idea...
I'm sure cameras will be an unjustified expense in the eyes of the Edmonton Police service.
They might have to stop getting free blowjobs from prostitutes, or stop beating up on party kids, or ditching aboriginals in the inner city in winter.
Cluichstan
03-05-2007, 18:23
I was being facetious.
"Yes, hello, I'd like a coffee and a light truncheoning, thanks!"
http://209.85.48.8/9854/48/emo/roflma.gif
You were supposed to look at the Amnesty International report :D
Sorry, but I don't consider Amnesty a reliable source.
Remote Observer
03-05-2007, 18:23
Can we make them look like dog collars? I like that idea...
The UK is experimenting with them.
The US has them on the patrol cars - traffic stops are nearly always on video and audio.
http://209.85.48.8/9854/48/emo/roflma.gif
Sorry, but I don't consider Amnesty a reliable source.
Even so, they are a great place to get the names of people involved in real cases, which you can then cross-reference with news sources.
Cluichstan
03-05-2007, 18:29
Even so, they are a great place to get the names of people involved in real cases, which you can then cross-reference with news sources.
Fair 'nuff, I s'pose.
Compulsive Depression
03-05-2007, 18:29
The UK is experimenting with them.
The US has them on the patrol cars - traffic stops are nearly always on video and audio.
They can put them in those big, breast-shaped police hats. I knew they were so big for a reason!
Seriously, got a link? I've never heard of this, and it sounds a pretty good idea (as long as the tapes aren't "accidentally" wiped...).
Pretty certain most of our police cars have cameras, too, if for no other reason than the filming of Police Camera Action!
Remote Observer
03-05-2007, 18:31
They can put them in those big, breast-shaped police hats. I knew they were so big for a reason!
Seriously, got a link? I've never heard of this, and it sounds a pretty good idea (as long as the tapes aren't "accidentally" wiped...).
Pretty certain most of our police cars have cameras, too, if for no other reason than the filming of Police Camera Action!
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/21/met_police_heargear_cameras/
Compulsive Depression
03-05-2007, 18:39
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/21/met_police_heargear_cameras/
Ta.
Shame they're turned on and off by the officer, so the copper can turn it off before doing something dubious. But hopefully always-on will be in a later version.
(Normally I like to do some bitching about privacy, but it's safe to say that a camera on a policeman's hat isn't going to see much more than the policeman himself, so there's not much problem there...)
(Normally I like to do some bitching about privacy, but it's safe to say that a camera on a policeman's hat isn't going to see much more than the policeman himself, so there's not much problem there...)
Well, I am a big supporter of counter-filming. Nothing pisses a cop off more than being confronted with a video camera. Well, okay, maybe someone stealing his honey cruller.
Arthais101
03-05-2007, 18:49
Can we make them look like dog collars? I like that idea...
I'm not surprised...
I'm not surprised...
Delicious irony:D
Randy Fryingpan? That's the kinda name they'd use for a character in a Monty Python sketch.
Maybe that's why he's so angry.