Comments on: Cop Involved In Taser Death Kills Self

NYPD Lieutenant Who Had Been Stripped Of His Badge And Gun Was Found Dead At A Brooklyn Airfield

[voidmaster-2009]

The mentality of cops like this guy is psychologically the same -- exactly the same -- as that of a rapist.

[idnnsg]

YohnVilson said, "It seems like a lot of these situations happen just because the cops get impatient and want to punish (i.e. hurt or kill) anyone who doesn''t obey them immediately".

That''s EXACTLY right! For some cra.zy reason, ever since cops became part of "homeland security", they expect everyone to obey them immediately, exactly as they command, with no questions asked! It is absolutely IN.SANE!

Don''t they know that that is what the Gestapo was like? Don''t they understand what they have become?

It''s NOT a good situation. The people of this country are NOT the enemy. Cops should "protect and serve" the people; we do NOT serve them!

[voidmaster-2009]

One down...

[blackyowe]

If Lt. Michael Pigott was any kind of man he would have dedicated the rest of his life to stamping out the use of tasers except in the most extreme citation instead he chose to "cop" out and take his own life and thus compound the tragedy.

[boydmathis]

YOHNVILSON: I must agree w/ u. Cops should be called to a higher standard - not a lower one- just because they pack power. But I am afraid - so goes the ways of our world these days

[yohnvilson]

What ever happened to good old-fashioned STANDOFFs? If someone with obvious hardware faults is standing on a ledge waving a stick around, what''s the hurry? It seems like a lot of these situations happen just because the cops get impatient and want to punish (i.e. hurt or kill) anyone who doesn''t obey them immediately. If the guy were in a clock tower with an AK47 I could totally understand, but they could have just waited this one out, knowing perfectly well that they''d win in the end and the guy would eventually have to kiss cop butt which seems to be all a lot of cops care about in the first place.

[torocaca]

You would really need to prove that the officer was intentionally overlooking the safety factor and not being careless. I think if the officer who actually did the tasering, said something like "This looks like it might endanger him from falling" or something like that, and the Lietenant explicity ignored the saftey factor and decided the risk was acceptable, then you might have something.
Posted by prometheus41 at 02:52 PM : Oct 02, 2008
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Pigott took his own life, so there must be a LOT more to the story than what you are assuming or what is in the article above.

Pigott is dead and no one will ever know what he was thinking when he made the decision to use the stun gun that ultimately killed a man.

In addition, most cops are NOT involved in a decision that leads to the death of another person.

Most cops never fire their guns in the line of duty.

More criminals are killed by civilians in self defense than are killed by cops.

[boydmathis]

Regardless of menal ilness or not, the answer should not be, automatically, deadly force when other options are obvious.

[swwils]

Thatmust have weighed allful heavy on the Lieutenants mind.It was an accident.I feel sorry for all involved.I know how it feel''s to give an order that involves people to die,from being in the war,and combat missions.Hopefully the officer that did the actual tasing will get over it.

[torocaca]

That the police officers immediately waived away considerations for an inflatable bag and immediately the Lieutenant ordered the firing of the taser upon entering the room and having sight of the suspect, despite the fact that this person was standing in a completely non-offensive manner perched and praying on the brink of a precipice -- the Lieutenant at all times cooly knowing full well he was seriously violating department guidelines -- is that your claim?
Posted by prometheus41 at 02:36 PM : Oct 02, 2008
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Well, first, the man (Morales) was outside, not in a room.

Second, the article says Morales was "jabbing at" officers... It doesn''t say he hit them.

Third, all of us are responsible for knowing the laws, rules, and guidelines that apply to us. Police are no exception.

If you speed down the highway while drunk, and are involved in an accident, you will probably be found guilty of drunken driving, even if you don''t speak English and don''t know the laws.

Are you saying cops don''t have to know the laws, rules, and guidelines that apply to them?

My only claim is that Pigott VIOLATED the department guidelines, caused a man''s death, and took his own life. Claims which are substantiated by the story above.

[boydmathis]

And BTW this cop whon killed my son could have stepped back & waited, too, if he was scared. There was a door 2 ft. away or a dining table he could have stepped behind. Instead, he carried a gun now!!

[dirtydog55]

Prove me wrong. Make me look like a judgemental, overly cynical and uncaring A$$HOLE.
Posted by prometheus41 at 01:46 PM : Oct 02, 2008


You proved it all by yourself.

People make mistakes. But when a cop makes a mistake, all too often, people die. And all too often, it''s an unjustifiable death. Such is the case with Morales.

Is Pigott''s death unjustifiable? Probably. But we''ll never know because he TOOK HIS OWN LIFE rather than wait for the judicial system to determine if he was innocent or guilty.

You are no Greek Titan, not even close.

[missingamerica]

The left demanded that the insane be allowed to roam free and then assail the police when they are forced to take action to protect the public from them.

Posted by Rillifane at 01:27 PM : Oct 02, 2008

Kind of a mistatement...institutions cost money to run, and with Republican tax cuts hitting everywhere...

[boydmathis]

My mentally-ill son''s chest was filled w/ bullets from a new policeman who had only been a gun-carrying policeman for 6 days. My son had a knife, but this police force had seen him put down a knife a few times before (when he was threatening to hurt himself). There were 4 cops within a few feet of my son. But it was justifiable because that cops was afraid for his life!!! Its been years & I still cry as I write this. This mother saw this horrible death of her son. She will draw her last breath w/ that image before her. I ache for her.

[galloglaigh]

galloglaigh, Your outrage over the killing of Iraqi citizens, families and children, particularly the wanton killing and airstrikes, must be immeasurable and uncontainable. And you better not even be thinking of the word "mistake" or "accidental", yet alone ignoring international law and crimes against peace.

Do you really think "rules" make killing wrong and right?

It really constantly amazes me how one person can be considered a monster or murderer and another a hero, based strictly on public perception, and nothing to do with the act or even motives of the people involved. It''''s like co many claim to believe in God, but usurp His judgement and sensibilities at every beckon call.
Posted by prometheus41 at 02:02 PM : Oct 02, 2008
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Wow!!! All I did was post my opinion regarding the incident in the above article.

It constantly amazes me when people (like prometheus) make outrageous assumptions...

Do you really live up to the mythological image of the Greek Titan?

[torocaca]

The officer did not break the "law" just a department guideline.
Posted by sassalin at 01:49 PM : Oct 02, 2008
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Guideline - official advice; an official recommendation indicating how something shold be done or what sort of action should be taken in a particular circumstance.


...just a department guideline...

Hmmmmmm... Violating a "guideline" may not have been a big deal if the man had not fallen to his death after being hit with a stun gun.

[antoniof123]

Prove me wrong. Make me look like a judgemental, overly cynical and uncaring A$$HOLE.

Posted by prometheus41 at 01:46 PM : Oct 02, 2008

Prove yourself right instead of giving us words prove it. People like you want to try to talk logic but your logic is lost in the fact that you talk down to others.

Both lost could have been avoided one the office could have waited he could have stepped back and waited. But he did not a mistake was made with a mentaly insane. They are people too and they are not in control of their minds. To they just want to do away with these people.

[torocaca]

The officer did not break the "law" just a department guideline. ... It is sad that people cannot make mistakes in this world. ...Look at yourself beofre you place blame on someone else.
Posted by sassalin at 01:49 PM : Oct 02, 2008
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Read it again, sassalin: Almost immediately, police said the use of the stun gun appeared to violate department guidelines, which explicitly bar their use "in situations where the subject may fall from an elevated surface."

A man died because a cop violated "explicit" department "guidelines." And it wasn''t a "split second" decision, as you say. In fact, the cops radioed for an inflatible bag. Why didn''t they wait for it?

It must have been a serious violation for the department to take his badge and gun, instead of simply putting him on "leave."

Whatever the outcome of the investigation would have been, Pigott made a "wrong" decision he (obviously) could not live with, and it was his own decision to pay the ultimate penalty.

Also, look up the difference between "rules" and "laws." You may be surprised at what you find.

[down-ndirty]

NYC loses a valuable human who was hounded to his grave ... but for the ravings of the same bleeding hearts who attacked this police officer.

The left demanded that the insane be allowed to roam free and then assail the police when they are forced to take action to protect the public from them.

Posted by Rillifane at 01:27 PM : Oct 02, 2008
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This bigotted post is "flaming" at its best.

There''s nothing in the article that suggests the cop was "hounded;", in fact, he killed himself within a "few days" after the incident. And there''s nothing in the article that suggests the "left" demands that the insane be allowed to roam free.

Cops represent the society from which they are recruited. Most respect the laws they enforce, but some don''t. Most copy never step over the line, but too many do and most who do get away with it. Pigott was obviously one of those who didn''t respect the law, and he didn''t get away with it. But it was his choice that it cost him his life.

I, too, feel sorry for the Pigott and Morales families.

[sassalin]

torocaca,

The officer did not break the "law" just a department guideline.

It is sad that people cannot make mistakes in this world. The officer was truly sorry for his actions. He took his own life and deprived his family of his love.

I would like to see your response considering officers MUST make split second decisions. It is easy for you to pass judgement since you will never be faced with such a situation.

Look at yourself beofre you place blame on someone else.