Was this much force justified?

[Aceking]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/co...r_video3a.html

Curious what people think. I found it difficult to watch.

[Ravenlord]

i didn't see anything done wrong by the officers. they were abrupt, but well within right.

[Blimpie]

Very disturbing video to watch...strangely enough, the police investigation found that the TASER option was correctly used as an alternative to other (more "forceful") control options (i.e. pepper spray or baton).

Personally, I'll take the pepper spray six days a week and twice on Sunday...

[Aceking]

I personally am of the opinion that if you get pulled over by a cop who asks you to get off the phone or step out of the car, you do it. You don't give the cop any trouble or you go to jail. That said, the second tase seemed a bit much to me.

[HotCorner]

Why do some people feel it's an option to obey an officer's command? I understand she may have been unsure of the officers credentials (since they were driving in an unmarked car) but the officer answered her questions and she still refused to cooperate.

[RedFanAlways1966]

The lady in the SUV was:

(1) Speeding, had a broken windshield, no seatbelt and a broken tail-light.
(2) Telling the officer how to do his job (never recommended!).
(3) Not obeying the officer's SIMPLE commands.

I feel more sorry for officers who have to put up with this attitude than I do for the woman (no sympathy for her and her attitude). The officer was doing his job. If I lived on that street and someone was doing 16mph over the limit, then I'd be upset at her and would want the police to cite her. Not to mention the other violations. She seemed to have an anti-authoritarian complex and unfortunately has to learn the hard way. She had every opportunity to do it the right way and decided that she was going to call the shots. And I am sure she got more charges for the trouble she caused.

Perhaps if she drove "near" the speed limit and had her vehicle in proper (legal!) order, then she would not have these troubles. But I am sure she feels that she is above those things called laws and can do as she pleases.

My Dad used to tell us kids, "Do as you are told and there will be no problems." My advice to Ms. Attitude is to learn this. Especially if it is the police.

[dman]

In the Use Of Force Continuum for police work, the TASER is actually a step ahead of Mace, Baton, and Deadly Force. What we are also forgetting is that we are hearing more than we are seeing in this video. It is MHO, that this lady was being very melodramatic in her response to being Tased. Although after being hit with a TASER, you never forget the feeling, you do recover nearly right away. I "rode the buffalo" in December of 2002 to see what it felt like. It was my feeling that if I was going to testify in court as to why I used this device, then I could honestly explain to a jury that I know how it feels to have one used on me and know it's effects.

This officer appeared to be fully justified in using this.

Here is a link to TASER's website that shows an actual use from a guy that I was in the Academy with. You definately see that his use was more than justified. If you have a high-speed connection, download the high quality version if possible.

http://www.taser.com/law/videos06.htm

[TeamCasey]

Yes, she should have put down the phone and followed the officers instructions.

What happens when one of these things hits a pregnant woman and causes a miscarraige. It's going to happen.

[dman]

What happens when one of these things hits a pregnant woman and causes a miscarraige

But if the person who is preagnant and knowingly does something that they know will likely get themselves into this kind of situation, shouldn't they still be reponsible for their own actions. Being preagnant doesn't give immunity from the law.

[Red Leader]

What happens when one of these things hits a pregnant woman and causes a miscarraige

But if the person who is preagnant and knowingly does something that they know will likely get themselves into this kind of situation, shouldn't they still be reponsible for their own actions. Being preagnant doesn't give immunity from the law.

Exactly. If the situation comes up, how is the officer to know if the woman is truly pregnant vs having a pillow in her shirt, which she believes will cause the officer to delay thereby giving her time to shoot and kill him. If that person is breaking the law and not following orders, the officer has no choice but to use force.

[TeamCasey]

I don't believe I said that pregnant woman are immune from the law.

I'm just saying there will be a lawsuit down the road when it happens.

[Roy Tucker]

I thought the cop was justified in his use of the taser.

I can't conceive of actng that way towards a cop if I get pulled over. If I get pulled over, I've already got my registration and license out, hands on the wheel, and it's yessir nosir. And I usually know what I've done. I figure the more I cooperate, maybe I'll get off with a warning.

Is this the escalating protocol that police use for a situation like this? She was pulled over for minor traffic offenses. Does the recalcitrant behavior trump the minor stuff?

[TC81190]

When the first miscarriage happens, there will be public outcry, the officer will be sued, and taser distrubution to police will fall dramatically.