Sheriff's Deputy Mistakes Pistol for Taser
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matt160
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Post subject: Sheriff's Deputy Mistakes Pistol for Taser Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:30 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 8:18 am Posts: 1086 Location: Anoka, MN
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Quote: BREMERTON, Wash. (AP) -- A sheriff's deputy who was trying to get a man down from a tree shot and wounded him after mistakenly pulling a gun instead of a Taser, authorities say.
The deputy, a five-year veteran of the force whose name was not released, was placed on leave while Thursday's shooting is investigated.
Deputies carry both a Taser and a gun on their utility belts. The Taser, or stun gun, is similar in shape to the compact .40-caliber gun the deputy carried, sheriff's spokesman Scott Wilson said.
The victim was listed in satisfactory condition. The man had been climbed a fig tree and stayed there for hours, talking to himself. Deputies were unsure whether he was intoxicated or psychotic, and they wanted to get him down before he hurt himself or others, Wilson said.
Deputies and rescue workers tried to coax him down for almost two hours, during which he became increasingly hostile, said David Blakeslee, an employee at an auto repair shop nearby.
Blakeslee said the man climbed down on his own after getting shot.
"He said, `Ow, that hurt. I'm coming down, I'm coming down,'" Blakeslee said. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SHOOTING_MISTAKE?SITE=TNKIN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060623/ap_on_fe_st/shooting_mistake_1
_________________ "Criminals thrive on the indulgence of society's understanding."
"A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." - Sigmund Freud
Last edited by matt160 on Sat Jun 24, 2006 6:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Tick Slayer
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Post subject: Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:14 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 9:53 am Posts: 1263 Location: MN
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ROFL! Sometimes the wrong thing is still so effective.
_________________
Image courtesy of Right Wing Swag
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DeanC
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:51 am |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:54 am Posts: 5270 Location: Minneapolis
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Mission Accomplished!
_________________ I am defending myself... in favor of that!
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Andrew Rothman
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:31 am |
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Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:24 am Posts: 6767 Location: Twin Cities
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I don't think it's very funny at all.
This has happened quite a few times, and sometimes the person the cop wanted to "restrain" has died.
This poor sap was probably retarded or off his medication, and is lucky to be alive.
It's a training issue, plain and simple.
There are recommendations -- like carrying the Taser in a crossdraw position -- designed to make it harder for an officer to draw the wrong tool.
This officer needs to find a new profession. I'd recommend housecleaner, where the meanest tool he has access to is a feather duster.
_________________ * NRA, UT, MADFI certified Minnesota Permit to Carry instructor, and one of 66,513 law-abiding permit holders. Read my blog.
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Pat Cannon
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:19 am |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:53 pm Posts: 1421 Location: South Minneapolis (East of Lake Nokomis)
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The first Tasers I remember seeing were held like a flashlight, rather than having a pistol grip. I think making them shaped more like a pistol was a mistake, for the reason that's obvious here.
And not issuing them to dumbasses would be good too. I mean, it's not like the guy was charging him.
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MOTOBOB
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 3:10 pm |
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Senior Member |
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Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:21 pm Posts: 104 Location: West Concord, MN (cat loving capital of SE MN)
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I believe the same thing happened in Rochester some time ago. The guy survived and got a large settlement from the city.
_________________ The world is full of idiots and I'm trying hard not to be one. =)
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A Brit in MN
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:18 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:32 pm Posts: 1803 Location: Woodbury
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Danger to self/others...where have I heard that one before......what danger would "others" be.....he's up a tree......what's he going to do ..fall on them. I agree with Andrew, it is a traing issue....why not leave the tazer in the squad car, right next to the shotgun. As for the non lethal feather duster.......he's still got his unlicensed KEYS.
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ttousi
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:27 pm |
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Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 11:20 am Posts: 3311 Location: St. Paul, MN.
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What was the hurry..........he had been up there for quite some time. It certainly didn't sound like an " under stress" situation where in his haste he pulled the wrong firearm.
_________________ http://is.gd/37LKr
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someone1980
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 9:24 pm |
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Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:19 pm Posts: 2305
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Hmm ya take your time. Maybe look down the barrel to see what is going to come out. Maybe try it out on yourself if you are not sure if you are holding a taser or pistol.
OK sarcasm aside, don't tasers have a big yellow or red thing on the end of them. Maybe a little picture of a guy getting electrocuted?
Another question. We have had a member of the forum talk about a silly thing an officer did, and we see stories like this every once in a while. I do not know how officers are trained. I assume they put through all of the paces of their job before they go active. I also assume that the answer to this question is "It depends". But is there any refreasher training? Or do they have to mess up before getting a talking to?
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Brewman
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:50 pm |
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Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 2:39 pm Posts: 1132 Location: Prior Lake, MN
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It's a risk- people make mistakes, always have and always will.
Perfection is a standard to strive for, but can never be fully achieved, not for long anyway. I as a human being blew my no mistakes record decades ago.
Doesn't excuse the act, but it can and will happen again.
_________________ Brewman
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glock+ipod
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:06 pm |
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Joined: Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:34 pm Posts: 184 Location: Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy
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someone1980 wrote: Another question. We have had a member of the forum talk about a silly thing an officer did, and we see stories like this every once in a while. I do not know how officers are trained.
Trained? Remedially! Don't forget, they "know how to handle a gun."
To be honest, the vast majority of officers I've met have been very professional and haven't given me reason to run for cover. Still, it only takes one idiot to get you killed.
_________________ Sliced bread? Nah. <a href=http://www.corneredcat.com/Basics/stance.aspx>Modern Isosceles</a>!
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someone1980
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Post subject: Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:09 am |
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Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 11:19 pm Posts: 2305
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Brewman wrote: It's a risk- people make mistakes, always have and always will. Perfection is a standard to strive for, but can never be fully achieved, not for long anyway. I as a human being blew my no mistakes record decades ago. Doesn't excuse the act, but it can and will happen again.
That is true. With the number of officers running around, one really does not hear about these sorts of things too often.
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BB Guns
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Post subject: Crap will happen Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 8:20 am |
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Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 10:16 am Posts: 120
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Even with the best training and range time, SHIT will happen! Just ask anyone who shoots IDPA or USPSA.... Who knows what will happen under stress? Remember we teach that in our carry class??
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Andrew Rothman
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Post subject: Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:01 am |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:24 am Posts: 6767 Location: Twin Cities
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Abalone!
This wasn't a "stuff happens" mistake. This wasn't a "it could happen to anyone" moment, or a "nobody's perfect" situation.
The cop used a deadly weapon in place of a restraint device.
This was a full-on brain malfunction on top of inadequate training and planning.
_________________ * NRA, UT, MADFI certified Minnesota Permit to Carry instructor, and one of 66,513 law-abiding permit holders. Read my blog.
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BigRobT
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Post subject: Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:08 am |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:25 am Posts: 1772 Location: North Central Texas (now)
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Andrew Rothman wrote: Abalone!
This wasn't a "stuff happens" mistake. This wasn't a "it could happen to anyone" moment, or a "nobody's perfect" situation.
The cop used a deadly weapon in place of a restraint device.
This was a full-on brain malfunction on top of inadequate training and planning.
Andrew, right on !!
_________________ A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have. - Barry Goldwater
"...quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est." [...a sword never kills anybody; it's a tool in the killer's hand.] -- (Lucius Annaeus) Seneca "the Younger" (ca. 4 BC-65 AD),
The Nanny State MUST DIE!!!
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