Old man tasered by police, falls hard, dies later from traumatic head injury.

[Lodestar]

officer - "Get down on the ground"
old man - "I can't!"

Can you imagine NOT being able to work around the man's physical disabilities
vs. personal fear of danger? Incredible. If this is "text book" and acceptable behavior
then once again it comes back to poor training/conditioning. CRAZY!
These conditioned rather than unique responses to situations is a recipe for legalized
murder. Just about anyone could have de-escalated this situation.
Of course the officer was not even reprimanded.

[daleanime]

1. ......

[Lodestar]

2. Officers seem to be like programmed robots, incapable of thinking on their own!!!

We need people who can make decisions based NOT on a text book but on the
existing situation. Yes more complex but certainly a life saver. If someone
is not capable of learning how to independently respond to individual situations then they
shouldn't BE police officers!!!!

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

3. Firstly, tasers are very dangerous for...

...older folks and people with health problems, and police departments know this.

Secondly, where is the justification for tasing him here? What serious threat was this man posing?

Citizen non-compliance without any serious and immediate threat does NOT justify the use of a taser.

I hope the family receives a multi-million dollar wrongful death award--the ONLY way municipalities with dangerous rogue police departments will ever sit up and listen.

[Lodestar]

4. Exactly, but there also needs to be a strong opposition from local communities

regarding these militarized training techniques that create these robotic, by the book,
responses. It's almost like brainwashing, hyper conditioning. We're seeing the results
of this type of training everyday on the news. It's epidemic! They lose their humanity
and their own unique and thoughtful means of addressing individual situations.

Anyone could have de-escalated this situation and apprehended him without weapons of
any kind. Just a human empathetic response and understanding.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

6. It does appear to be a militaristic...

...training officers are receiving. Citizen = Enemy. Protect and serve is a thing of the past.

I agree also that deescelating this situation could have readily been done as the man they tased was already trying to do just that. The cops would hear none of it.

[Downwinder]

5. Why do these supposedly progressive cities

(Austin, San Francisco) have such aggressive PDs?

[Lodestar]

7. GOOD QUESTION!! There ARE alternative training programs.

I would like to know when this type of militarized training went into effect which is
so broadly accepted throughout the states. It's brainwashing and way over the top.
When did cops stop being human beings? They/we create the reality they/we most fear.

I posted this video/article about a more progressive approach the other day that is being used
in Washington state.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016150105

[Dustlawyer]

12. All Texas officers receive the same training.

They all remind each other all of the time to do what it takes to make sure you go home to your family each night. Now though, they have taken this to the extreme. If the guy holds his hands straight above his head, palms open to show no weapon, police can carefully approach and cuff him. Now it's just shoot or tax so no risk at all to them. If they die it was just some "scroat" (local police term for us) anyway!

[Lodestar]

8. Salon: Militarized Police Are Everywhere

Militarized police are everywhere: “When police officers are armed and trained like soldiers, it’s not surprising that they act like soldiers”

First, we outsourced war to Blackwater and others. Now, they're training our police. No wonder we have Ferguson

“When police officers are dressed like soldiers, armed like soldiers, and trained like soldiers, it’s not surprising that they are beginning to act like soldiers.”

http://www.salon.com/2014/08/30/militarized_police_are_everywhere_when_police_officers_are_armed_and_trained_like_soldiers_its_not_surprising_that_they_act_like_soldiers/

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

9. There was no reason to react so swiftly.

I first would have asked him to walk over on to the lawn.

I would then ask him to lay down on the lawn, if he could. If he said he could not I would have had the taser lady pull out her issued firearm and stand 10 ft in front of the man and aim at his head.

Then I would have politely asked the man if he would mind putting his hand behind his back so I could handcuff him. If he then said, due to being an old couch potato that he wasn't flexible enough to do that, I would have my lady friend shoot the bastard between the eyes.

Either way, he's still dead, but at least I gave him a fighting chance.

Long live the 2nd Amendment!!!

On edit: I can't believe I'd have to do this, but stranger things have happened around here!

[FailureToCommunicate]

10. Massachusettes State Police are joining the "non-lethal" -but very deadly- taser bandwagon...

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/31/state-police-troopers-outfitted-with-tasers/uY2RvuJfMYiZOWxDgjAGCN/story.html

[Lodestar]

11. Tasers are part of the issue, but it's the training of those who use them

that is of greatest concern to me.

[zebonaut]

13. Apparently the Old Man was "too strong" for him. Jeeeezus H. Christ!

[Lodestar]

14. I believe it was the woman cop who tased the old man. But the old

man was no threat to either of them. However, if you are conditioned to look
at people as potential enemies and threats rather than as human beings,
then that will color your response which is bound to be defensive and
aggressive both. It's like they have no other gears to shift into.