KC cops fired for tasering handcuffed suspect

[proud2BlibKansan]

Posted on Thu, Jul. 21, 2005

KC officers fired over Taser use

Associated Press


KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Board of Police Commissioners on Thursday fired two officers for allegedly misusing a Taser stun gun on a handcuffed man last year.

Police Chief Jim Corwin had recommended that the officers, David Easley and Matthew Howell, be fired and a hearing was held last week.

A camera in a patrol car recorded the officers arresting a suspected car thief on Aug. 10, 2004. When the 24-year-old Kansas City man tried to run from police, Howell fired a Taser - which stuns a person using electrical current - and hit the man in the back.

The suspect was then handcuffed, and Howell fired the Taser four more times. The fifth use of the stun gun came after Easley allegedly told Howell to "hit him again."

Corwin and other police officials told the Board of Police Commissioners that the first two uses of the Taser appeared to be within department policy. But Corwin said the fifth use of the stun gun clearly was not.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/12190724.htm

[Kraklen]

1. Why aren't they arrested and thrown in prison?

Is the whole police force corrupt?

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I don't think the whole force is corrupt

This is a bizarre story. The first cop thought this guy had stolen a car. He pulled him over and when the guy resisted, he tasered him. Then he handcuffed him. The guy tried to pull the taser out of his back so the cop tasered him twice more. Then the second cop arrived, the guy got belligerent and the second cop told the first cop to taser him again. And the first cop tasered him a fourth time. The second cop later said he wasn't serious, but just trying to get the guy to shut up.

The police board said they were concerned about him being tasered after being handcuffed. So that is why they were fired - excessive force.

The odd part is that one of these cops was up for a promotion and in reviewing his records, they found the report of this incident and decided to investigate. In the meantime, the tasered guy hired an attorney and that was pretty much the end of it all for these cops. And one of them was about to be promoted to sergeant.

Oh, and the car - it really was stolen.

[ScamUSA.Com]

2. must be funny to watch the human twitch at the end of the wire

not

[catnhatnh]

3. SO-Where are the "Defenders"....

tonight???

[AX10]

16. That's what I want to know.

You ever notice how they never show up when a taser is abused or involved in an injury/death.

[Lautremont]

5. Sadists.

I don't want to characterize police as sadists, but it's getting harder every day.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Yes these were definitely not

good cops.

[AX10]

17. Some of them are sadists.

That's why they joined, to have power over people, instead of being the protector.

[William769]

7. Go ahead & start flaming me now!

Who the fuck does this guy think he is stealing a car. If he had not put himself in that position he wouldn't have to worry about it. I am sick & tired of people coddling criminals.

[ScamUSA.Com]

8. lol

thats not the point.

abusing someone in custody is a crime in itself

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. Well why not just handcuff him then?

Don't you think tasering a handcuffed suspect - just because he is being mouthy - a bit over the top?

[DemBeans]

10. oh, please

This guy was repeatedly tasered while handcuffed.

I think everyone here expects a car thief, if guilty, to be sentenced to prison. That's hardly 'coddling a criminal'.

Geez, you probably think the cops should act as judge and jury and just execute street criminals without a trial. And repeatedly tasering someone can indeed cause death. You must subscribe to our New Republican Reality a la Abu Gharib.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Do you think tasering a handcuffed person is ok?

The point is excessive force. There have been incidents reported at DU where people have been tasered while handcuffed and have died. In at least one case, the person was found NOT to be breaking a law, but rather having a medical reaction (I think an epileptic seizure)

What we have to remember is that a person is to be considered innocent until PROVEN guilty. I know that means that sometimes criminals are treated less harshly than some would like, but it also protects innocent people from coming to harm.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

12. Wake up and smell the toast, William.

Cops are in the job of enforcement and apprehension, not punishment.

Get a grip.

[JanMichael]

13. Maybe they should have just shot him?

You know, they could be Judge, Jury and Executioner, all at once!

How cool would that be???

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AX10]

15. Wrong! Police are to apprehend and collect evidence.

It's for the courts to decide for justice. Why are you jumping to the conclusion that the suspect is in fact guilty? He still has to go to trial.