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libertyinchaos - Your Name And Badge Number, Please...
Nov. 23rd, 2007
03:04 pm - Your Name And Badge Number, Please...
November 23rd, 2007
Police Tasering Suspect, Image Credit: http://www.surfermag.com/features/onlin
What prompts a Police Officer to use a weapon on a citizen?
Apparently the answer to that question is lengthy, and includes; asking unpopular questions to political candidates, speeding, meeting for a church gathering, and the strangest claimed offense, DOING NOTHING AT ALL.
Don't believe me? Before we take a look at what you can do in such a situation, let's just bust out all of the evidence right here and now...
Being Tasered for asking questions...
On September 19th, 2007, Andrew Meyer, a student at the University of Florida, was tasered and arrested as he posed unpopular questions to former Presidential Candidate, John Kerry. {Two University of Florida police officers were on leave with pay Wednesday as university officials tried to sort out what caused them to use an electronic stun gun to subdue a student, the school's president said.}
For the full story, go here:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/19/studen
Being Tasered for Speeding...
Above Video may shock you...
{UHP (Utah Highway Patrol) tasers man in front of pregnant wife and baby over an alleged speeding ticket. Outraged? Call the Vernal, Utah UHP Office and let them know!}
Story original to:
http://cgi.fark.com/cgi/fark/youtub
Meanwhile, in Florida, Being Maced for attending a Church Function...
Mace Cloud Sprayed Over Peaceful Church Crowd... {An Orlando officer apparently caught on video spraying a can of mace "like it was an air freshener" over a seemingly peaceful downtown crowd -- sickening several people -- has prompted a police investigation.}
For the full story, go here: http://www.local6.com/news/14633857/det
Being Tasered for Defending yourself again street violence...
{"The exact number of times (the Taser was) deployed will be determined in the course of the investigation," Graham said. "Obviously he's engaged in a physical confrontation in the middle of the street with a suspect, therefore it's at the officers discretion at what means he can use to get control of the suspect." Allen is the eighth person shocked by a law enforcement Taser gun to die in northeast Florida. There were two deaths in St. Johns and Clay counties, and one each in Duval, Clay, Nassau, Putnam and Columbia counties.}
For the video report from local Channel 4 News, go here: http://www.news4jax.com/news/14635422/d
For the full story, go to: http://www.news4jax.com/news/14635422/d
And finally, being Tasered for NOT RESISTING ARREST...
{The video shows him backing up, raising his hands and turning away before the police stun him with the 50,000-volt Taser, sending him to the floor screaming before he's stunned again and the Mounties pin down his head and limbs to handcuff him. "Probably the most disturbing part is one of the officers using his leg and his knee to pin his head and his neck against the ground," said Paul Pritchard, who made the video. Dziekanski then became quiet and died soon after. "I don't know why it ever became a police incident," said retired Vancouver police Supt. Ron Foyle. "It didn't seem that he made any threatening gestures towards them."}
For the video of the Tasering, go here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_v
For the full story go here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/1
A few other stories, just to make sure the evidence rings through loud and clear:
Taser Death - {A 20-year-old man died Sunday after being shot with a Taser device during a scuffle with a sheriff's deputy in Maryland, a spokeswoman for the Frederick County Sheriff's Office said...
Amnesty International has reported that, since June 2001, more than 150 people have died in the United States after being subdued with a stun gun. The organization has called for police departments to suspend use of the devices pending study of their possible risks.}
For the full story, go here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/18/ta
{(Male Officer) Kovach said he used the device on (Female Drunkard) Gill at least seven times, including twice while she was handcuffed, according to the police report...}
For the full story go here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/26/tasere
For an informative breakdown on Taser operation, go here: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/26/tasere
Now then, I'm not entirely certain what makes Law Enforcement Officers decide to use weapons on unsuspecting citizens. Yes, that's right I said weapons. Mace, Tasers, these are weapons. They are claimed to be 'non-lethal' and are designed not to cause death, but they are nontheless weapons. Any weapon can be used to kill. Nightsticks, (the non-lethal option pre-taser) are also weapons. Known to the Japanese as the 'Tonfa' all trained martial artists are familiar with ways the nightstick can be used to cause serious injury or even death. Rodney King's famous footage proved surely that the usage of a weapon is the responsibility of the officer.
Using a weapon on a civilian is a serious offense, even if the weapon is not a gun. I'm not sure when 'To Serve and Protect' morphed into 'To Subdue and Control', but American Law does not side with these offending officers. In many of the above cited instances, the tasering (repeated tasering) led to death. That's called murder, whether you wear a badge or not.
What sets a police officer off? Who knows now-a-days... With the examples listed above, I can't tell you with a straight face that obeying the law is enough to keep you from being killed by a control happy cop.
What I can tell you, is the best way to deal with a Police Officer, so as to control the situation from the outset of your particular detainment.
It all starts with a simple question, "May I have your name and badge number please?"
Law Enforcement officers are trained to respond to this question in several ways. 1) They will comply with your request, even when asking you for your license and registration, and will dutifully supply you with their name and badge number. 2) They will take note that you are a citizen familiar with your rights and with the rule of law. 3) They will determine that you are in physical control of yourself.
If an officer does not respond in such fashion, you may use this evidence against him in a court of law. Demonstrating restraint in such a fashion will help to prove your case after the fact.
If an officer steps outside the bounds of his duty, and say, attempts to Taser you, etc. You have the following recourse available:
1) Point out to the officer that his actions are being recorded by the camera mounted on his/her dashboard. This video/audio evidence is not only used in court against citizens, but for them. If a police officer violates the law and is caught on video, that's one thing. If an officer is caught on video breaking the law AFTER BEING WARNED that he/she is being recorded... that's something else altogether. A verbal warning of the fact that you are being taped can go a long way towards preventing police violence.
2) You are absolutely allowed to dial 911, and summon other law enforcement officials to the scene. In fact, you have the ability to dial 911 and ascertain verification that an officer is validly attempting a pull-over, before you agree to pull your car over. If you decide to do so, applying your emergency flashers and driving slowly is expected.
3) You may request a review of your Miranda Rights (to remain silent, etc.) You do not have to co-operate with a police officer's requests, as long as you do not forcibly resist arrest. You MAY remain silent, you MAY go through the booking process and then begin to fight your case from there.
4) You may place the offending officer under arrest. Yep, that's right. Though many have forgotten, citizens of the United States of America have the power to arrest. It's called a Citizen's Arrest, and it's perfectly legal to do. It's one of the 'Checks on Power' that makes our country great. You will most likely be required to report fully on the incident to the officer responding to your request for arrest. You should also be prepared to give a deposition of the events to a lawyer. To arrest someone, you simply need to state to that person (Police Officer or Citizen) I am placing you under citizen's arrest. Physically placing your hand upon either an officer or citizen is considered an arrest as well, in conjunction with the arrest command.
Don't forget, that Law Enforcement is here to Serve and Protect the public, and that force is not always necessary. Know your rights, and always ask for a name and badge number...
Supporting information for Citizens who fear Police Violence:
http://www.constitution.powersandmorris
http://www.amendments.powersandmor
http://www.usconstitution.net/miranda.h
http://www.cccr.org/ - Citizens' Rights Information
From the Amendments to the United States Constitution, the document(s) from which the power of Law Enforcement is given...
AMENDMENT [I.]
Congress shall make NO LAW respecting an establishment of religion, or PROHIBITING the free exercise thereof; or abridging the FREEDOM OF SPEECH, or of the press; or the right of the people PEACEABLY to ASSEMBLE, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
AMENDMENT [IV.]
The right of the people to be SECURE IN THEIR PERSONS, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
AMENDMENT [V.]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of LIFE, LIBERTY, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
AMENDMENT [VIII.]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, NOR CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENTS inflicted.
AMENDMENT [IX.]
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, SHALL NOT be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
AMENDMENT [X.]
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or TO THE PEOPLE.
AMENDMENT XIV.
SECTION. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State SHALL make or ENFORCE ANY LAW which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of LIFE, LIBERTY, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
-Nathan Morrison is a political news columnist for Powers&Morrison.com For further information on this or any article printed herein, please contact: Morrison@PowersAndMorrison.com. All sources cited internally.
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