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This week's paper reports that Chief Joe Snyder asked the Police Commission for its opinion on the police force purchasing tasers. Among other things, he said he would try to arrange for a live demonstration "if he could convince someone to do it."
I'll do it.
The article implies that the Chief was looking for a volunteer from the department, since "officers have to be tasered" as part of their training. It's commendable, but I think it's the wrong way to go. Officers who have experienced a taser in the past, and are trained to endure much tougher rigors than the rest of us, can't possibly provide an accurate representation of what this thing is like on the receiving end. Let's get a civilian volunteer, I thought, or demonstrate the taser on members of the Police Commission so they have a clear idea what they're being asked to approve.
Then I realized that it's fine to make that kind of suggestion, but no one's going to take it seriously. I also realized that I have no idea what a taser is like, and so I really shouldn't be forming opinions.
So why not? I can get tasered at the commission's next meeting and tell them what it's like. I've got an average build, average health, and a willingness to sign a waiver, as long as I get a copy.
5 comments:
you might want to watch some youtube videos of people being "tazed" before you actually volunteer for this....
ouch!
I'll go with you and volunteer to be tasered, too. Let me know when and where.
I think Tonie Hokensen, Kitty Brown and all the town board should be tazed. Then they might have a way to feel the shock we all feel when we see how they make decisions.
A little googling shows that there is a small risk of death in tasering (for the person being tasered), but if you are undaunted by that, Terence, by all means get your foot in the door as a "test journalist." Maybe you'll get the first call to come on down when the waterboard is introduced.
Will Suny N.P. police carry tazers too?
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