freepatriot32 writes:
>>http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/10170605.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp<<
From the story cited above:
>"When you have a 6-year-old who is on medication and very disturbed, maybe some of that crisis intervention training would be very handy," he said, referring to a program that teaches officers how to deal with the mentally ill.<
The Los Angeles Times reported 6/5/2004 that about 40 people nationally have died as a result of Taser use since 1999. Although the manufacturer claims these deaths are a result of other causes, Taser International training materials curiously describe the device as "less lethal," not "non-lethal." There has been no thorough, independent and impartial evaluation of the medical effects, much less the psychological effects, of electro-shock weapons like the Taser.
The company claims the deaths were the result of other causes and does NOT acknowledge that taser shocking could have CONTRIBUTED to the deaths. Those other causes, according to Taser International are mainly the result of adult drug use, especially cocaine and amphetamines, both stimulants.
Now we find out the 6 year old boy was on "medication". Like Ritalin maybe, a DEA Schedule II prescription stimulant commonly given to kids nowadays? Instead of "given" perhaps I should say "force-fed" by the authorities to make them "controllable"
The plot thickens.
Actually, I was referring to the intoxicated, cigar-smoking 12 year old that was running from the officer and ready to dash across a busy intersection.
Actually, I was referring to the intoxicated, cigar-smoking 12 year old that was running from the officer and ready to dash across a busy intersection. There were two stories I had posted the other day and this wasn't the one I wanted to link to.
Just last week in Boston we had a girl killed by a pepper ball fired from a paintball gun. According to the NIJ, about 10 percent of officers were injured in the 2,479 use of force incidents in 1996-1997, and 38 percent of the suspects were injured, 1.5% with major injuries.
Data from 1995-1997 indicate that in that two-year period, there were 39 major injuries suffered by officers in use-of-force situations.
The Taser, while perhaps slightly more risky than sitting there and waiting for the kid to lose consciousness from exsanguination, ended the situation with no injury to the child or anyone else.
I'm dazzled that you bring up psychological effects of Taser, considering that every police officer must feel its effects personally as part of the training and certification process, and the obvious severe psychological effects being suffered by this six-year-old as he deliberately cut himself with a piece of glass.
The plot can't thicken by much, because the kid was at risk of death and now he's not.