Tasers for sure. Lets face it, the police are human beings and sometimes they make mistakes. In a situation where a police officer mistakes you for an offender, would you rather suffer a tasering or gunshot wounds?
As for the missuse of weapons, it goes on with pepper spray. This is not okay of course, and any officer who abuses an offender or suspect should be held accountable and suffer the consequences. Again, better a taser than a pistol.
Police work is an awful job, and not something that I would ever consider doing. The fine men and women who are the police in New Zealand deserve to have whatever they need to make their jobs easier and safer.
I'm all for tasers if they are used in the context "Instead of a gun" and only in such circumstances. Examples would be when an offender lunges at an innocent victim or officer with a knife or puts laie in danger, Tazers are an effective way to avoid blowing someone's brains out with a gun. (certain context sex offenders need that though)
as for using them for "crowd control" or as a "threat of compliance", this is totally innappropriate.
Wouldn't it be great if the left wing pacifists in NZ could spend a few nights attending domestics etc and see how they get on dealing with someone who is too intoxicated/high to respond to reason.
The police have taken a bit of a hammering over the last 5 years or so, why anybody would want to join up now is beyond me. There are a lot of easier ways to make a policeman's salary other than actually becoming a policeman.
As others have said getting tasered would be much preferred to being shot. I don't think tasers would be kept on duty belts either unless they were deployed before going to an incident, I suspect they would be stored in lock boxes in vehicles.
With regards to pepper spray, someone mentioned it lasting for 24 hours. It doesn't, unless you have a very strong allergy to capscicum. Most people are fine after 30-45 minutes. I've been on the receiving end a few times and although it is painful it's not that bad.
While it is nice to think that the police in NZ remain unarmed indefinately I don't think it is feasible if current trends in society continue. I think people who are completely opposed to the idea of police becoming armed are living in ignorance to what actually happens in NZ everyday and what police face. I guess to some degree if it doesn't make the 6pm news or police 10/7 some people will never be exposed those type of incidents.
The next time a cop gives you a ticket or sprays you or whatever just remember his day has probably already been worse than yours. Plus he still has to go back to the station and do the paperwork........
marmel: Wouldn't it be great if the left wing pacifists in NZ could spend a few nights attending domestics etc and see how they get on dealing with someone who is too intoxicated/high to respond to reason. The police have taken a bit of a hammering over the last 5 years or so
hmmmmm.....it would be nice if you could hang a lable on all the critics (would probably make it easier to take their details and arrest them later on), but I don't think its that black and white. I actually think the police have a huge amount of support from the public - and indeed they rely on it to get the job done (lets face it - the small country towns with a single constable couldn't function without it - let alone in the cities). But there is some justification for concern as in recent times a few cops (through their actions) have spoiled it for the rest - and that makes it harder for all the other cops doing their job.
As mentioned previously, my brothers a cop. The best man at my wedding was a cop, and my family have run a foster home for kids for decades (the ones that are usually on the end of domestic violence) - so we've had cops, victims, etc in and out of our house for as long as I can remember. Even my mother is on an advisory panel at aklnd central. I'm concerned about my brothers safety all the time - but I also know their are some in the force that make it hard for everyone in blue trying to do a good job - and that p*sses me off! so yeah - I'm happy for them to have tasesrs - as long as they ensure anyone who abuses it (and it will happen) is kicked off the force.
As others have said getting tasered would be much preferred to being shot. I don't think tasers would be kept on duty belts either unless they were deployed before going to an incident, I suspect they would be stored in lock boxes in vehicles.
bingo! Tasers in a lock box would be good and would go a long way to reassuring the public. Might also remove the temptation to bring it out at an incident if its half an hour before the end of shift and someone wants to end the matter quickly. I don't go along with the "its better to be tasered than shot" arguement. Its like giving some a choice between being hit by a truck of a car if they're about to be run over (its not really a choice at all).
While it is nice to think that the police in NZ remain unarmed indefinately I don't think it is feasible if current trends in society continue. I think people who are completely opposed to the idea of police becoming armed are living in ignorance to what actually happens in NZ everyday and what police face. I guess to some degree if it doesn't make the 6pm news or police 10/7 some people will never be exposed those type of incidents.
absolutely agree. hell, if you're facing someone on meths - I'd be happy if they used the gun!
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