Comments on: Traffic-Stop Taser Cop Acted "Reasonably"

Utah Officials Say Trooper Felt Threatened In Incident Widely Viewed On YouTube Website

[justicepie]

Nancy,

I believe less-than-lethal items are kept on the left side of the body, and service weapons are on the right.

Now unless half of that class is left-handed, then I''m sure in your scenario, every officer will know that a taser was used and not his service weapon.

Everything kills, tasers just kill less.

[rudy654-2009]

Here is just how simple communications skills could have been used by this officer: "Sir, if you do not sign the ticket, I will have to arrest you. Is that what you want?" And as quick as a blink of an eye, the boy would have said, "Let me sign it." Now, how bloody hard would have been for the officer to do that? NOT BLOODY HARD AT ALL. FIRE HIS REAR END FOR BEING ON A POWER TRIP!!!!

[rudy654-2009]

Whether Massey liked or disliked what Trooper Gardner said is irrelevant.

Posted by alphaa10 at 01:28 AM

I think you totally miss the point. You are ascribing to Massey thoughts and ideas that may not have been there at all. He actually has explained that he thought he was getting out and going to discuss the matter. Obviously he was ignorant of the situation and the officer made nothing better through clear and concise communication. If this officer lacks communication skills outside of a tazer, then he really needs another job. Furthermore, Massey was seriously confused by the tazer, in fact, he thought it was a gun. When he turned, and he has explained it, he did so because he was suddenly scared. There was no intention of just ignoring the officer as is being ascribed here. Frankly, I think the boy simply had no idea how officers can be on a power trip in such a situation. The officer clearly went above what was necessary in this case from the start, and this has been confirmed by other officers in Utah, no less. Regardless, this officer did not make the streets safer that day, instead he made them more dangerous than ever. If an officer pulls me over, I am going to be DEATHLY afraid of him, and frankly that is not the kind of world I want to live in. It may be the reality, but it isn''t my ideal of a country that respects its citizens.

[dylanxxv]

Hopefully someday this pathetic PIG''s family will be kidnapped and tasered till their eyes bleed...

[alphaa10-2009]

Nameverify said, "Cant wait for the Democrat convention when the police tazer the Libs in the street..."
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As you may know (though I am not sure), the police cannot legally taser anybody on political belief. Beating protestors with whom you disagree is the tradition of Bull Connor, the KGB, police of the PRC and other lawless states.

So, the only issue in a Western, liberal democracy is the rule of law-- whether there is (1) lawful order and (2) appropriate use of force.

Put another way, if the police taser some Republicans in Minneapolis, should there be hell to pay?

[alphaa10-2009]

rudyd654 said, "From a lot of the excitement here in support of this brute force, I can only imagine the homes you people have been brought up in: clearly authoritarian dictatorships of "my way or the highway."
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The rule of law implies citizens have obligations, as well as rights. One of those obligations is to obey lawful orders from duly constituted authority.

Whether Massey liked or disliked what Trooper Gardner said is irrelevant.

Doubtless, there are police who resemble Archie Bunker. Yet, there are plenty of others (and a growing number) with an education and respect for doing things professionally and fairly.

To oppose police on general principles is not to defend liberty. If the police cannot work effectively, they cannot defend your right to protest them.

[hissteps4u]

Magoo

There is no requirement to sign any ticket in any state of the union. They can refuse it and the Officer makes that Note on the ticket and issues it accordingly.

You need to learn the Law or at least understand it. No state hs such a requirement.

[alphaa10-2009]

libsluvsuvs said, "...if people would observe the people who thinks that the officer''s act was out of the ordinary are the same people who thinks osama is right..chavez is right...."
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Just noticed your post after I made mine-- and I supported officer Gardner. Which demonstrates the danger of making presumptions about others.

Neither Chavez nor bin Laden is relevant here, but Faux News may have given you such a bias you cannot understand Americans can agree with you on some issues, but not others.

FYI-- Chavez is not the devil you suppose, though he has some Castro-like tendencies, and wants to be el Caudillo for life, a real warning sign. A valuable clue to the real Chavez is what he does to Venezuela''s rule of law. Watch Bush on this, too-- see the Bush presidential directive of last May.

Bin Laden is a violent Arab nationalist who has used guerrilla warfare (aka "terrorism") most of his adult life in what he views as liberation of the Arab world from poverty and political abuse by the West. Clearly, these are his own views-- all Arab nationalists are not violent. Violent or no, Americans supported bin Laden when he cut Russian throats, so our objection cannot be terrorism, can it?

[rudy654-2009]

From a lot of the excitement here in support of this brute force, I can only imagine the homes you people have been brought up in: clearly authoritarian dictatorships of "my way or the highway." I hope none of you treat your children as harshly as you sound here. Otherwise, you need a visit from CPS.

[rudy654-2009]

The video clearly shows that Massey was of no threat to the officer. The only threat that officer faced that day was to his face claim: I''m the big bad officer and you better do what I say!! OH! YOU Turned away! Taze!

The only thing that will make the highways and biways safer in this instance is to make sure that officer stays off of them.

[alphaa10-2009]

I am often on the other side of this issue, and am just as likely to be critical of police behavior.

In this case, however, Massey has little pertinent fact going for him-- and Trooper Gardner''s video caught it all.

During the encounter, Gardner on two occasions clearly ordered Massey to "turn around and put your hands on your head"-- and Massey continued walking away.

If there are legal Rules of Engagement here, it is never, ever give the slightest doubt you intend to comply with a lawful order from police.

Despite Massey''s claim, a mere verbal "dispute" never was the issue. Disputation, itself, is not illegal.

But the moment Massey began to walk away from the officer, refusing twice a direct order, he lost his case.

[rudy654-2009]

and of course if people would observe the people who thinks that the officer''''s act was out of the ordinary are the same people who thinks osama is right..chavez is right and criminals and murderers have more rights than victims.Posted by libsluvsuvs at 12:10 AM

I think its funny that you try to qualify the opposition to your point of view with associations with Osama and Chavez. I for one feel that this officer is in the same league with those characters. Power hungry and thrilled to abuse it. That is all three of them: Osama, Chavez, and this officer.

[rudy654-2009]

Zap the idiot again. Idiots that turn around and ignore officers and then reach towards their pockets should be lit up. He would have been justified to shot the jerk and rid our planet of one less waste of oxygen! Posted by woznick at 12:11 AM

I think you are talking about yourself and have some serious deep seeded issues that need to be discussed. You are projecting how you feel about yourself onto someone else. It''s sad that you think you are a waste of oxygen. You must be a very lonely person.

[ssm9451]

Go to ''tridellutah.com''-there are telephone numbers there, that you can call to voice your concerns on this unbelievable incident.

[woznick]

Zap the idiot again. Idiots that turn around and ignore officers and then reach towards their pockets should be lit up. He would have been justified to shot the jerk and rid our planet of one less waste of oxygen!

[libsluvsuvs]

well think of it this way..when an officer conducts a simple traffic stop..the person knows that he is dealing with a public servant that is open to this kind of ridicule and attacks AND HE CAN SUE. An officer DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT..his life can end with a single shot..

and of course if people would observe the people who thinks that the officer''s act was out of the ordinary are the same people who thinks osama is right..chavez is right and criminals and murderers have more rights than victims.

[willie4u2b]

tazers should be illegal,especially in the hands of "law enforcers".No one has the right to torture innocent people. If one cannot handle the rigors of the job get another. We all will be better for it.

[willie4u2b]

tazers should be illegal,especially in the hands of "law enforcers".No one has the right to torture innocent people. If one cannot handle the rigors of the job get another. We all will be better for it.

[sensible2]

most cops are just bullies thats why they are cops. I have dealt with all kinds of cops(on the wrong side) and found that they are mostly cowardly bullies that is their nature or they wouldn''t want to boss everybody around and MAKE them do what they(the cops) think is right. How about letting a citizens comity make a recommendation instead of cops keeping it in the family?

[magoo2u1]

According to the state officials the cop hae 3 options:
1- make a note the the man refused to sign
2- do nothing
3- he can arrest the motorist

Cop is a jerk.
The motorist was in fact fumbling with his pocket and the cowards used it to justify the tasering. The cop is arrogant and should have informed the motorist that arrest is an option if he doesn''t sign the ticket.
Always keep your hands in plain sight, cops are vulnerable on the roadside and rightfully concerned for their safety. This cop did not have to act the way he did and should not be patrolling the highways in my opinion.