09/20/04  The  "New" Dallas PD TASER Mentality

TASER Situations About To Unfold

Imagine law enforcement personnel who must simultaneously confront  several criminals (or other combative individuals such as drunks and the insane) who must be subdued and/or arrested. 

Some in the community fear the use of the traditionally utilized Lateral Vascular Neck Restraint (LVNR), used for years with minimal medical consequences.  Additionally, some fear the traditional "baton", used for years as a non-lethal opponent control device.  Then again, some fear the use of pepper spray (for  fear of discomfort to the criminal).  

Let us remember that the perpetrator(s) MUST be handcuffed to prevent any harm to an officer or general public.  

How many of you ever attempted to handcuff a 300-pound psychotic criminal?  How about two of you?

Imagine also, that the bad guy is flailing around in a crowded bar or other public place with numbers of common, law abiding citizens present.

Now, enter the TASER approach -- if the officer happens to have one, two, or three readily available.   If he/she does not have one or more available, he can call for assistance on the radio, and SOMETIME later help will arrive, hopefully with a TASER.  Now, it is certainly hoped that the first TASER shot finds the correct mark (like the chest).  Accuracy could be a challenge if the subject is moving quickly to the side, or in any other direction, in the dark.  

Imagine what an uproar would transpire should the dart pierce an eye or some other organ (or some third party).  And, should the officer miss the target altogether -- "TIME TO RELOAD" -- if one is available.  Or, perhaps another supervisor could be called with another TASER.  

Let's hope that the batteries are charged.  These circumstances represent the real world and are not intended to be comical. 

When bad things begin to happen, the officer on the scene (might be a sole officer) often needs to take action immediately to prevent loss of life, or some alternate threatening situation. 

The  TASER is fine in some very-controlled situations.  Imagine trying to use the TASER in a close-in, hand to hand battle.  Psychological conversations between the officer at the scene and the criminal, under threatening conditions, are usually not going to work "quickly".  

Outlawing the LVNR, baton, pepper spray, etc., and penalizing an officer from using same as a backup means of defense or offense is going to drive law enforcement officers from the profession for fear of suspension, firing,
civil/criminal liability charges, and on and on.

Pressure upon the DPD by activist groups pressing for use of TASER weapons, while outlawing alternative approaches, represents further attempts to degrade law enforcement (and perhaps, further increase the Dallas crime rate).  

It is time for COMMON SENSE to prevail at the Dallas Police Department.

Rad Field
(Been there, done that.)
Dallas Council Dist. 11