These people got tasered because they ELUDED police, not because they didn't pay for transit. Quit twisting the story around, just like the media.
In one incident, a man who eluded police went on the tracks and wouldn't come out. Do you expect the officers to go in there and wrestle him out. Easier and safer for all concerned to taser him, get the cuffs on and get him out.
And it matters little if the perp has coke in his system or is epileptic. If he eludes police he should expect anything, at least a taser. His condition or his addiction, that's his problem. He shouldn't be doing stupid things to begin with, dumbasses.
Sure officers are carrying weapons of all sorts and they are well trained, but what you fail to realize is that the taser is the best weapon for controlling a suspect and getting him or her into cuffs because about 99% of the time the suspect will comply and almost never does a perp die from being tasered. They die as a result of a condition they have or something that they have ingested, usually illegal. Not the cop's problem.
Hand to hand combat presents a greater risk to the public, the officer and the perp, because during the fight a perp could pull out a weapon that the officer has not cleared yet. If he had been searched previous to the fight and no weapon was found on him, then yes the taser may be excessive if the perp isn't particularly large or skilled in fighting. No matter what happens, the perp is going to lose.
Other weapons at their disposal include batons, which if striking the wrong part of the body like the head could be lethal and there's always the risk that the baton can be taken away and used against the officer and/or a bystander. Wrong weapon.
Pepper spray again, presents a threat to the public because of the harmful chemicals spreading in enclosed areas. There are usually a certain amount of people at Skytrain stations who could breath this, not to mention other officers involved. Wrong choice of weapon again.
Side arms are used only for situations that present lethal danger. They do not use them to shoot out tires like you see in the movies, they don't use them to partially wound a suspect unless it's their last hope and they see an opportunity for only wounding the suspect instead of killing him (a very rare situation). Again wrong weapon.
Who cares about their vest? If they're dealing with someone who might use a knife chances are they may try for the face or neck or maybe the leg. Not sure why you brought this up?
And then to have to make the appropriate choice of weapon in a split second adds even more pressure to the situation. And the longer you take to make that decision the higher the chance everthing goes sideways. My fear is that officers will second guess their choice of using the taser simply because of public bullshit like this calling for their ban, the fallout that could result in using it, meanwhile the perp has already stabbed him or a member of the public. And who's the public to criticize how police do their job? Just because they pay their salary through municipal, provincial and federal taxes doesn't mean they know anything about dealing with a potentially lethal situation that could mean the end of their or an innocent bystander's life. Most people who have never been police officers have no idea what happens in situations like this, nor how to deal with them, and it shows with their naive and stupid outcry for the ban of tasers.
It makes no sense, because tasers save dumbasses from situations that could escalate and could otherwise have them shot. The people the police have to deal with in Vancouver presents a unique picture. In 1999 the VPD had about 300 dealings with people with mental disorders, some severe and dangerous. By 2007 that number had increased to a staggering 1700 incidents. They are the front lines and the only means of dealing with people who SHOULD be locked up in institutions. Many present violent behaviour precicely because they want to be killed by police--suicide by cop. Very often it is much easier and safer for all involved tasering them and getting them into custody than having to shoot and kill them. It's the same idea with people experiencing cocaine psychosis, who become extremely agitated and violent and yet still others who become violent after drinking too much or on methamphetamines. The only way of controlliing these people is through lethal means, yet you have a less-than-lethal option. The perp's chances of survival are increased with the use of the taser. You don't expect an officer to try and wrestle this idiot down do you? And yes, they did that before but that's why we have less officers injured or killed. I'd rather see some moron up no good die than a police officer protecting the public.
BTW, I have seen someone getting tasered on the Granville mall and I found it kind of funny. He was so drunk that he could not be controlled, he was given several warnings to calm down. He didn't comply and got his sorry ass tasered. He screamed like a little eight year-old girl.
I'd say fine job VPD boys. He asked for it. My buddies and I couldn't stop laughing.
Anyway, from your response I can tell you know nothing about what law-enforcement professionals do and that's OK because most people don't either. It's just best not to comment on other weapons that they should use instead of the taser because like the media's response, it's just naive and misinformed.
Panther
