I don’t think too many officers...or soldiers for that matter...are “proud” of what they have to do in inflicting harm on other people as a part of their duty. But they do it anyway because it is their duty and to allow domestic or foreign criminals or enemies to escape brings a worse set of problems.
The officer and his actions were reviewed and cleared.
Maybe he was not in a good position to “chase her down” but could fire the taser. I wouldn’t judge so harshly. The woman was a criminal who had left the scene of a hit and run, had evaded police capture for five months, and who, when captured, broke free and tried to run.
As you say, she is the one responsible. So, short of being there and knowing that what you are speculating at is actually true (ie. he was too lazy...a pretty harsh judgement), I would not try and place the weight of guilt (or blame) on this officer. He was cleared, and IMHO, ought to have been cleared.
A sad tragedy that she fell such that she incurred a brain injury...but, IMHO, that unfortunate consequence belongs completely to her.
Bullcrap. This was not a violent felon evading a felony arrest. He is too fat to run 50 feet. And she was handcuffed! Amazing how people back almost any action stupid cops make. FReepers should know better.
Watch the video, he was maybe 3 feet behind her when he tased her, he’s a fat lazy ass who frankly has no business being on the force IMHO.. If you can’t cover 3 feet between you and a 90 lbs woman and pull a tazer in that situation, you are a flat out disgrace. I don’t care what the review board says.
Based on that video, the review board was just protecting the thin blue line, nothing more. I truly hope this guy is absolutely fiscally destroyed in the courts and never allowed to wear a badge other than maybe mall guard again.
This is the problem I have with ‘non lethal’ weapons.
Did this woman do anything that would have warranted deadly force? Or even pulling a pistol out of a holster?
As far as I can tell - no.
So why use a taser on her? I understand she was running...but that doesn’t threaten the officer’s safety. Sure, she might have gotten away (although I doubt it). But, would the officer have pulled out his pistol and shot her, to prevent escape? No way.
These tasers in particular are mis-used. They should not be used to ‘catch’ people...or prod them out of cars...or force people to ‘comply’. They are a weapon...and the police should only use weapons on we the people, if we physically threaten them.