police chief fired for using taser on wife

[Nicole Lambeth]

Oh my head...you can find the story here. You know, I love this state. We have good people here, but then we read about jerks like this, and I understand why the rest of the country thinks we're a bunch of dumb-ass hicks. Because it's this and Pretty Hair Perry that make the news - what else are people supposed to think?


I originally found this link on Feministing, with a this article and some commentary on this from a feminist's perspective. I think they're worth a read if you have the time.

[sonias]

1. That police chief is a disgusting wife abuser

And that man would have just as easily used another weapon on his wife. Tasers are lethal weapons and frankly I think they should be banned. Cops are not sufficiently trained on their use and they use them pretty much like they do billy clubs.

Hope he gets a really harsh sentence. It really should be a charge of attempted murder. :grr:

People are killed by tasers more frequently than you think. Here is a taser death from this weekend for example.

AAS 4/19/09
Man dies after being subdued with Taser

FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth police are investigating following the death of a mentally ill 24-year-old after police subdued him with a Taser stun gun.

The parents of Michael Jacobs Jr. called police to a Fort Worth home on Saturday morning, saying their son was causing problems, police said in a statement.

Police said an officer stunned him with a Taser when he became combative.

The officers planned to take Jacobs to John Peter Smith Hospital for a mental detention. He was handcuffed but began to have difficulty breathing, police said.

Sonia

[Nicole Lambeth]

2. yeah, death by taser stories

have been in the news a lot lately. Less lethal does not mean NON-lethal. And you're right, I think an abuser (esp. one w/ access to weapons like tasers) is likely to use whatever is at their disposal. This story really bothered me, and I hope they throw the book at him too.

[sonias]

3. There is at least one bill in the Lege to ban their use on students

HB 2953 by Representative Coleman
(b)The board of trustees of a school district shall
prohibit school district peace officers, security personnel, and
other employees from using a stun gun or taser to subdue an
elementary, middle, or junior high school student on school
property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related
activity off of school property.

Don't tase our kids, bro!

Sonia