Police use Taser on 10-year-old at school career day

TriWinkle · #1 11/02/12, 08:28 AM

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A lawsuit claims an Albuquerque, N.M., police officer stunned a 10-year-old boy with a Taser after he refused to wash the officer's car.

Officer Christopher Webb was visiting the boy's elementary school for a career day on May 4 when the incident occurred, according to Courthouse News.

During the presentation, Webb apparently asked a group of students if they wanted to wash his patrol car, the lawsuit states. When the boy, identified as R.D. jokingly refused, Webb pointed the stun gun at him and said, "Let me show you what happens to people who do not listen to the police."

Police use Taser on 10-year-old at school career day, lawsuit alleges | The Lookout - Yahoo! News

IMO, one of the comments to this article about sums it up:

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What would happen to me if I "accidentally" shot a cop (or his dog) with a taser? I'm thinking I would be arrested, charged with a felony and, if I survived the arrest procedure, sent to prison. The word "Accident" should apply equally to those whose job it is to protect and those who are protected.

KMA1 · #2 11/02/12, 08:51 AM

It was an accident! That is his excuse. Sounds like this person never had a mature enough mental ability to be a police officer in the first place. This deserves firing and jail time! That is what it would be if the shoe was on the other foot!

CesumPec · #3 11/02/12, 09:46 AM

I carry a pistol nearly all the time. I take it very seriously and use education, practice, research, education, and practice to make sure I don't do something dumb. I have almost accidentally walked into a post office and had to turn around to leave my gun in a locked car. I have accidentally walked into a gym where I would need to remove my gun but wouldn't have a safe place to store it so I returned to my car.

What is impossible for me to do is accidentally un-holster my gun. I can stand on my head or run down the street or do jumping jacks and the gun will not come out of the holster without me intentionally taking it out.

The point being, that cop didn't accidentally taser the kid. he removed the taser from its holster with intent. One of the things they teach in the Green Berets and a number of shooting schools is that there is no such thing as an accidental discharge, there are only negligent discharges. A negligent discharge in the GB gets you put off the team for at least one year. That cop got a 3 day suspension!?! He should have been fired or at least demoted to a position that does not allow him to carry any weapons.

FunnyRiverFarm · #4 11/02/12, 12:10 PM

He must have missed the first lesson in Weapons 101 where they teach you that you should only point your weapon at someone if you intend to use it on them.

CesumPec · #5 11/02/12, 12:37 PM

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Originally Posted by KMA1

It was an accident! That is his excuse. Sounds like this person never had a mature enough mental ability to be a police officer in the first place. This deserves firing and jail time! That is what it would be if the shoe was on the other foot!

And the more I think about it, not only should that cop be fired, someone higher in the org needs to go as well. Whoever thought that a 3 day suspension was good enough is not good enough to keep his position of authority.

PistolPackinMom · #6 11/02/12, 03:52 PM

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Originally Posted by CesumPec

And the more I think about it, not only should that cop be fired, someone higher in the org needs to go as well. However thought that a 3 day suspension was good enough is not good enough to keep his position of authority.

Unfortunately, what we will see is the thin blue line come down to protect this cop and his actions. I strongly doubt he'll be fired, much less serve jail time for assaulting a minor. Cops get a slap on the wrist for causing the department the inconvenience of covering up a mess, but not much more than that.

CesumPec · #7 11/02/12, 04:43 PM

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Originally Posted by PistolPackinMom

Unfortunately, what we will see is the thin blue line come down to protect this cop and his actions. I strongly doubt he'll be fired, much less serve jail time for assaulting a minor. Cops get a slap on the wrist for causing the department the inconvenience of covering up a mess, but not much more than that.

Agreed. And then all those involved in protecting this bad cop need to go as well, including possibly the mayor, city manager, and police chief. We will get a police force that is honest and protects the rights of all only when it is demanded.