What's up with the cops these days?

It's crazy how the civil libertarians love increases in police power. Tyranny always comes from your local police officer not some philosophical hypothetical struggle between feds and state.

What civil libertarian loves increases in police power?

Yeah I remember this one time this woman adjusted her walker and one of the tennis balls got a few inches closer to me so I clotheslined her. Maybe read the article.

Maybe read the police report.

Dallas.Org: El Reno Police - Report on Lona Varner (http://www.scribd.com/doc/33557136/Dallas-Org-El-Reno-Police-Report-on-Lona-Varner)

Compare it to the civil complaint.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/24/TaserGranny

The heart of it is that, according to the police, the granny was apparently an elderly woman who had gone "off her meds", was delusional, was weilding a "ktichen knife", and threatening to kill anyone who came near her including, apparently, her grandson.

Not saying they acted correctly or incorrectly - but it sounds like, if the police report is wrong, there will be plenty of evidence to contradict them (they apparently have the knife as evidence - let's see what we're talking about here). Also, I don't know, but I can see a situation where a crazy lady weilding large (if it was) kitchen knife might present a problem for paramedics so the cops had to disable her somehow. Was a taser appropriate? I don't know; I wasn't there. Neither was anyone else here.

Perhaps, just perhaps, its a little hyperbole by those seeking to argue that govt. is out of control or those with an agenda against police. They are easy targets for the both the right and the left.

Again, I am not saying the cops acted correctly, just that it may not be so cut and dry as some would like to make it.

Let's look over the fact that civilians were not alerted to the new law.

From the Article:
"[Community Safety Minister, Rick] Bartolucci, who is also the minister of correctional services, said the changes were voted in by a special five-member meeting of cabinet on June 14. The regulations were then posted on a relatively obscure government website, www.e-laws.gov.on.ca.

He said the changes were demanded by Toronto police.

'There was no secretive process here,' he said. 'The reality is this is the process that is followed with every regulation. Those who view e-laws — and I’m sure that they’re viewed by lawyers — were well aware this regulation was passed.'"

The above statement reminds me of a passage from the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxay:

Upon being informed that the earth was about to be destroyed to make way for an interstellar by-pass and protesting the pending imminent destruction, earth's 20th Century populace was informed -

"There's no point in acting all surprised about it. All the planning charts and demolition orders have been on display in your local planning department in Alpha Centauri for fifty of your earth years, so you've had plenty of time to lodge any formal complaint and it's far too late to start making a fuss about it.
...

What do you mean you've never been to Alpha Cenatauri? For heaven's sake, mankind, it's only four light years away, you know. I'm sorry, but if you can't be bothered to take an interest in local affairs that's your own lookout.

Energizie the demolition beams."

Maybe read the police report.

Dallas.Org: El Reno Police - Report on Lona Varner (http://www.scribd.com/doc/33557136/Dallas-Org-El-Reno-Police-Report-on-Lona-Varner)

Compare it to the civil complaint.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/24/TaserGranny

The heart of it is that, according to the police, the granny was apparently an elderly woman who had gone "off her meds", was delusional, was weilding a "ktichen knife", and threatening to kill anyone who came near her including, apparently, her grandson.

Not saying they acted correctly or incorrectly - but it sounds like, if the police report is wrong, there will be plenty of evidence to contradict them (they apparently have the knife as evidence - let's see what we're talking about here). Also, I don't know, but I can see a situation where a crazy lady weilding large (if it was) kitchen knife might present a problem for paramedics so the cops had to disable her somehow. Was a taser appropriate? I don't know; I wasn't there. Neither was anyone else here.

Perhaps, just perhaps, its a little hyperbole by those seeking to argue that govt. is out of control or those with an agenda against police. They are easy targets for the both the right and the left.

Again, I am not saying the cops acted correctly, just that it may not be so cut and dry as some would like to make it.

This is a very intelligent post. +5.

Even if the lady was 86, she was crazy, off medication, and weilding a deadly weapon that she could have used against herself, paramedics, officers, and her grandson.

People say the taser is too violent?? What else could they do to an 86 year old lady with a knife...pepper spray her? punch her in the face? shoot her with a bean bag gun?

One of the things I hate about society, is that we have a concept that above or below a certain age, it's okay to blantantly break the law.

I get tired of hearing the elderly defended. As some of you know on here that know me, my good friend was killed last spring when he was T-boned by an 88 year old man who turned into his driveway and didn't look.

The man faced no charges, because of his age. Take me for example. I'm 25 and if I would have killed somebody with my car, i would be going to jail. But not the elderly, because they get the excuse that "They don't know what they are doing"

If I was the cop i would have tazed her too. And if she tried to stab me or swipe at me with that knife, i would have blown her away.

Maybe read the police report.

Dallas.Org: El Reno Police - Report on Lona Varner (http://www.scribd.com/doc/33557136/Dallas-Org-El-Reno-Police-Report-on-Lona-Varner)

Compare it to the civil complaint.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/24/TaserGranny

The heart of it is that, according to the police, the granny was apparently an elderly woman who had gone "off her meds", was delusional, was weilding a "ktichen knife", and threatening to kill anyone who came near her including, apparently, her grandson.

Not saying they acted correctly or incorrectly - but it sounds like, if the police report is wrong, there will be plenty of evidence to contradict them (they apparently have the knife as evidence - let's see what we're talking about here). Also, I don't know, but I can see a situation where a crazy lady weilding large (if it was) kitchen knife might present a problem for paramedics so the cops had to disable her somehow. Was a taser appropriate? I don't know; I wasn't there. Neither was anyone else here.

Perhaps, just perhaps, its a little hyperbole by those seeking to argue that govt. is out of control or those with an agenda against police. They are easy targets for the both the right and the left.

Again, I am not saying the cops acted correctly, just that it may not be so cut and dry as some would like to make it.
It wasn't linked or else I would've taken that into account. Pretty big evidence to have been left out of the original article.

It wasn't linked or else I would've taken that into account. Pretty big evidence to have been left out of the original article.

It took me 5 minutes to find the link. Rather than question something that seemed outrageous on its face, you just bought the agenda you wanted to believe and then accuse someone else of not having their facts straight.

Yeah I remember this one time this woman adjusted her walker and one of the tennis balls got a few inches closer to me so I clotheslined her. Maybe read the article.

Way to avoid critical thinking. Welcome to the sheep nation.

Are the police getting too big for their breeches these days?

Courthouse News Service (http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/24/28330.htm)

'Secret' law lets police arrest for failing to show ID near summit (http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Secret+lets+police+arrest+failing+show+near+summit/3201082/story.html)

This is already on top of the little girl getting shot.

Also, it sounds more and more like standard police procedure these days to shoot a man's dog upon entering his house.

What Sayeth the Mob?


If a cop did that to my Grandmother and in her house on her bed..................I'd beat the shit out of him or at least try too! Thats damn for sure! What a bunch of pussies too! Tasering a 86 year old! Freakin horrible! I hope those cops go to prison and then get put in General Population. They won't be able to hide behind their badges then!

If a cop did that to my Grandmother and in her house on her bed..................I'd beat the shit out of him or at least try too! Thats damn for sure! What a bunch of pussies too! Tasering a 86 year old! Freakin horrible! I hope those cops go to prison and then get put in General Population. They won't be able to hide behind their badges then!

I understand your anger, i do. But really what could they have done, when she had a knife and was threating to stab her grandson. Would you have just waited for her to stab somebody, and THEN try and calm her down??

the fact was, she was putting people in a life threatening situation, even if it didnt seem like it. If the police did nothing, the same people would be crying that they didnt do anything, after somebody got stabbed....

Dallas.Org: El Reno Police - Report on Lona Varner (http://www.scribd.com/doc/33557136/Dallas-Org-El-Reno-Police-Report-on-Lona-Varner)

Here is the police officer's statement on what happened. It still seems like the police could have backed off, and waited for an ambulance to show. If at that time she threatened the EMT then the police could re-assert control over the situation, including use of a taser. I am glad to be out of that field, and away from dealing with domestic incidents. Absolutely the worst and most unstable situations a police officer can get into.

Dallas.Org: El Reno Police - Report on Lona Varner (http://www.scribd.com/doc/33557136/Dallas-Org-El-Reno-Police-Report-on-Lona-Varner)

Here is the police officer's statement on what happened. It still seems like the police could have backed off, and waited for an ambulance to show. If at that time she threatened the EMT then the police could re-assert control over the situation, including use of a taser. I am glad to be out of that field, and away from dealing with domestic incidents. Absolutely the worst and most unstable situations a police officer can get into.

Probably true, although from the report, I don't think that would have changed anything and may have increased the problem as you now have more people crowding into the living room area.

For me, the question is what was the "kitchen knife" - was it some 10" long chef's knife or a little paring knife. At the same time, if the report on this woman's actions is correct, she was really acting crazy. Even it was just a small knife, I just don't know how you could immobilize this woman without likely injuring her in some fashion.

Agreed, domestic issues are always the most unstable - and that applies at the legal end of it too (Once, I saw a milliion dollar divorce settlement fall apart over who gets the poodle).