Man dies after cops use Taser on him -- chicagotribune.com

Man dies after cops use Taser on him -- chicagotribune.com

Not only did these police use a Taser and kill a suspect but they identified the 37 year old as a "24 year old". Clearly they missed their suspect and killed another person, or, they have no business carrying lethal weapons when they can not properly identify a suspect.

"Became violent" does not describe what preceded the man's objection to police violence. It is disturbing to read of justifications like "the man is a known gang member".

The use of the weapon requires some supervisory approval, and their "use of force" criteria include such specifics as determination of the person is an "active resister" or "are trying to distance themselves from an officer's reach in an arrest."

So that means that running from an officer is cause to be Tasered and have your life put on the line.

The Taser is the electrical death machine that fits in your pocket.

Neat.

Now read the description of events by a witness.

From the back of a police vehicle, Garza said, he saw police shock Gonzalez with a Taser twice while he was on the ground and "wiggling" away from police. He also said police officers struck Gonzalez for 10 minutes, and he blamed police for his death.

"They shouldn't have done this," he said. "He was on the floor. How could he fight back?"

But police spokesman John Henry said officers shocked Gonzalez because he was "resisting arrest and becoming combative and violent while being taken into custody."

Police Weaponry

Should the police be armed?

With recent deaths due to pepper spray probably causing a heart attack, is it possible to discuss the issue of should our police be armed and if so, how - without invoking the "better than guns" argument.

The actions of police we hope never get into the territory that one normally pitches am armed force against. But to think that in today's world is simply unrealistic.

Police are the appointed guardians of our society. When they overstep the mark, as they certainly have in some exceptions that take all the media steam away from more positive developments. And then we start to read about how police could be issued with the Taser to disable miscreants, and with the current trend against tagging, how many of them will now be subjected to potentially fatal lethal force?

None, we hope. How are police going to deal with threats if they are not fierce and ruthless. By being smart, trained and resolved. But making assault of a police officer into an offense idiots are charged with, rather than being taken to for revenge. Police must rise above the legacy of lawless behaviour from disgraced individuals.

'Bloody idiots' shock police - 16 Dec 2007 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news

'Bloody idiots' shock police - 16 Dec 2007 - NZ Herald: New Zealand National news The police launch a massive campaign to blitz drink drivers the weekend before Christmas. We can all agree that acceptance of this form of entrapment is better than the death the drinking driver causes to our friends, family, children. If you are the recipient of a Drunk In Charge of a vehicle and you are wanting to fight it you better get the best lawyer you can as it is a case that it is hard to wriggle free of as the evidence is collected right under our noses. Now, there is no reason under the sun to support drinking drivers. They are more than a nuisance, they are accident waiting to happen. But it is the non-compliance with the law that is of concern. Out of 52,000 motorists, only 51,670 were sober. If it does prove that the anti drink drive messages are not working, perhaps it is time the police reviewed the objective. 99.36% observing the law is not that bad for non-alcoholics - but for those 335 people, welcome to the system. There are no real winners - if you are caught drunk and controlling a vehicle, it is not like they need to prove that much more. Imbibe too much plonk and "risk it" could put your life out to dry for a few months and cost you more than you hoped. Is there a reason we can not get 100% of all drink drivers off our roads? They can use buses. We should recognise some are part of a heavy drinking culture and insist they take a bus or taxi home. But if it's the suburban BBQ or beach party as well as the city, the public transport system is not saving lives we way we hoped.

Local lesson in taser death - lawyer - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

Local lesson in taser death - lawyer - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz Hear Marie Dyhrberg speak out against taser - in the link above.

Police have duty to protect public

Police have duty to protect public - PM - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

It is true enough that the police have a duty to protect the public. But they also have a duty to bring charges effectively. This "is not going to happen" if the laws that they try to apply are described by the Solicitor-General David Collins as so complex as to be nearly impossible to bring charges in a domestic case.

If civil unrest, protest and political activism is to be redefined as "terrorism" then laws to protect us from that may be a good idea. But the law must be even handed and secrecy is required to protect the public safety, or the safety of undercover informants, etc.

The real problem is not that the police acted, it was the premature and unnecessary invocation of the Terrorism law to deliberately make it fail. In the end is it a case that the morale imperatives that the Bush war imposes on rational governments cause their terrorism policy to lack teeth? Or should we dig more into the assertion that the police are unable to follow laws that have been drafted (when the rest of us somehow are expected to follow other laws) due to complexity?

What is so complex? If the police can prove intent to endanger the lives of others then they should prove it. Having illegal weapons is not the modus operandi of the terrorism that overreaching laws are there to protect us against. If these people were going to kill others there needs to be a motive established and public airing of their sins. It would have been good enough to bust the guilty for weapons.

If an individual wants to declare war on the entire country, perhaps we should wait until they actually do something and send in the army and shoot back. But to associate "terrorism" with Mäori political activists, or peace campaigners is just why we have civil libertarians arguing for human rights. Mäori Sovereignty is a political issue that would be damaged badly by acts of terrorism as any same person would realize. Many let off a bit of steam. If one were a campaigner for Treaty rights the association of terrorism with natural rights of law would be sickening.

The reason the Terrorism laws were impossible to apply is simply that it was wrong to charge them without real evidence. Terrorism laws overreach to address terrorists and preventing terrorist attacks, and although the police were concerned about the illegal activities they are still bound by due process. It was probably good enough to simply get them on gun-law violation and leave the terrorism law to the emergence of the actual situation they address.

Letter to Helen Clark

The Prime Minister
The Rt Hon Helen Clark

25 October 2007

RE: Terrorism bill being discussed in Parliament


Dear Rt Hon Helen Clark
The bill before parliament is alarming to say the least. The recent arrests of Maori and other activists should be allowed full public disclosure of the details of their crimes. If terrorism has started to exist in New Zealand then the best weapon a government has is public alertness and justice being seen to be done.

Shutting down the freedom to protest will reduce public alertness and wither interest in the safety of the community. Individual isolation follows from an inability to voice concern. I think people feel helpless in the face of a legislation largely perceived as draconian.

Incarceration should never be a political threat. I hear writers fearing imprisonment for saying the wrong thing as a genuine possibility arising from the terrorism legislation being discussed.

Civil disobedience and the right to protest are arguably part of the Kiwi character. Legislation to criminalise such would change the nature of this community.


Your sincerely,
Nicholas Alexander
NZ Citizen

Police Search Warrent seen as attack on veteran protester

Police Raids has affected Public Image

Recent police raids on gun law violations which for some reason saw fit to use terrorism laws to arrest 17 suspects. 72 veteran protester and trade unionist Jimmy O'Dea had his home searched in a case of alleged kidnapping. It would appear that the actual criminal used mr O'Dea's address - sort of phishing for the tech unaware crook, maybe? Mr O'Dea has recently protested at the "anti-terror" raids so naturally the execution of a search warrant seems a little far to go before the police realised the crook was conning them. Perhaps a little more investigation instead of reacting with "force" may prevent people being terrified the police will be breaking into their bedrooms anytime soon.

Helen Clark has been accused of being Muldoonist - and I do not want to be the one who says Blairish. It may work in America and it may work in the UK - but it won't work here.

New Zealand is a country of fierce pacifists, not lazy warmongers. Yes the terrorism bill being debated has no serious challenge from Labour or National. By softening the electorate with the idea of Napalm is alarmist and if it is true then the evidence must be there.

Polish embassy expresses concern over taser death

globeandmail.com: Polish embassy expresses concern over taser death

Raided group's plans

Raided group's plans 'will horrify middle NZ' - New Zealand, world, sport, business & entertainment news on Stuff.co.nz
Tame Iti - facing firearms charges.

New Zealand Police have conducted operations to shut down training camps and found weapons including "Molotov Cocktails" and "napalm bombs". Both are sure to send a shiver down the collective spine of "middle New Zealand" as it recoils in horror at the prospect of some kind of military action. There were reports of a threat against the Prime Minister.

The police have taken "prudent action in keeping with the interests of public safety" saying there was significant risk. It is now before the courts so comments can be only mere speculation. If the police claims are true, are we witnessing the start of a civil war or is this just a bunch of survivalist hunters learning how to survive in "the bush"?

Time will reveal what the police have on Tame Iti - the famous Maori activist who was tried for shooting the flag at Waitangi. Police allege they captured illegal weapons including military style assault weapons and automatic guns as well as having collected evidence on the case for an investigation of up to two years.