Tarrant County Sheriff turns down Tasers

[seamusTX]

Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson decided against issuing Tasers, citing concerns about their safety.

http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/1676913.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim

[Liberty]

She probably figures the night stick is safer for everyone.

[joe817]

She probably figures the night stick is safer for everyone.

Dee Anderson is a man.

[dicion]

On one hand I agree, Giving Cops Tasers has seemed to make them want to go to them more frequently & quickly than they would normally go to any other kind of Force against anyone.

However, with proper training, I see them as an invaluable tool. A way to neutralize someone without having to get within arms reach of them, and without having to use Lethal force.

The issue is Training, not the Tasers themselves.

[casingpoint]

The manufacturer is having some second thoughts about how tasers used.
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/ ... agets.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Perhaps this incident had some bearing on the above:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 3768.story" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide via a deadly weapon.

[jbirds1210]

The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide via a deadly weapon.

That is how almost all of these cases are ruled. Remember that homicide doesn't mean murder. A state sponsored execution is a homicide.

Jason

[casingpoint]

A significant aspect of this case is the coroner's classification of the taser as a deadly weapon. I can't find the article right now, but that particular finding was quite unsettling for Louisiana law enforcement at the time. Heretofore, these things have been considered to be a means of non-lethal control only.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Recently there was a case (Fort Worth?) where a female LEO tasered a guy
non-stop for 47 seconds.

She didn't realize that she had her finger on the Taser's trigger that long. DUH.

SIA

[joe817]

This says it all:

The sheriff also turned to Tarrant County Medical Examiner Dr. Nizam Peerwani for advice.

"He voiced those very same concerns," Anderson said. "He thought if the Taser was used on a perfectly healthy individual, that it was probably safe. He said he feared someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs or [who] had some physical impairment in some way . . . that there could be further damage done, up to causing the death of a person. It gave me great pause."

Peerwani has declined to comment on Taser incidents, citing the investigation into the death of Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr., 24, who died April 18 after he was shocked with a Taser fired by a Fort Worth police officer.

[jbirds1210]

This says it all:

The sheriff also turned to Tarrant County Medical Examiner Dr. Nizam Peerwani for advice.

"He voiced those very same concerns," Anderson said. "He thought if the Taser was used on a perfectly healthy individual, that it was probably safe. He said he feared someone under the influence of alcohol or drugs or [who] had some physical impairment in some way . . . that there could be further damage done, up to causing the death of a person. It gave me great pause."

Peerwani has declined to comment on Taser incidents, citing the investigation into the death of Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr., 24, who died April 18 after he was shocked with a Taser fired by a Fort Worth police officer.

If you feel that the differences of opinion on this forum are entertaining.....can you imagine disagreements many in the medical community might have with Dr. Peerwani?

I would never believe testimony from any single individual about something so controversial as the Taser.

Take a peek into the penal code and see that even a feather can be a deadly weapon.

Jason

[Keith B]

Take a peek into the penal code and see that even a feather can be a deadly weapon.

Jason

My Mom used to used to say 'That just tickled me to death', but I didn't think she was serious that it could happen!!

I do agree that tasers are WAY to controversial right now. Until I can see more evidence that they are causing too many deaths of the individuals they are used on, then I am of the opinion that the benefits of use to the officer's who have then outweigh the the negatives at present. IANAMD

[casingpoint]

a feather can be a deadly weapon.

Try selling that to a jury.

[ELB]

On another board I frequent, a police officer related a recent taser incident in his department. Two officers went to the ground in a pile with a suspect who was struggling. One of the officers tried tasering the suspect's lower leg directly, i.e. pressed against the leg (note: I was unaware until this guy's story that the "direct" taser power level is lower than that used with firing the probes). The other cop yelled for him to stop. He did, but the struggle was still on, so he tried again on the upper thigh several times, with no apparent effect. Eventually they got the guy subdued and cuffed. When it was over, the one officer mentioned to his partner that the suspect acted like the taser had no effect whatsoever. The other officer replied, essentially **that's because you were tasering MY leg.** And yet the cop fought right on thru it.

[Carrots]

The other officer replied, essentially **that's because you were tasering MY leg.**

Gotta love those Keystone Cops

[jbirds1210]

a feather can be a deadly weapon.

Try selling that to a jury.

If the feather in question was a deadly weapon, I would have no problem telling a jury. I would also have no problem hearing it.

I would immediately ask how much cocaine the decedent had ingested prior to the plumage pummelling.

Jason