UCLA student tasered by police.

[Sand]

Especially when a multiple tasered individual would have next to no ability to stand up and walk.

[Sand]

Those four officers are half of the force!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sucks to be them then. They should be fired immediately.

[Walsingham]

1) The individual was being a brain donor. He gets no sympathy from me for being an attention seeking fethwit. Just offer yur ID, if you don't have it, ask politely if you could stay to do some work. If not, head out and chil out.

 

2) Being a brain donor, even a shouty brain donor, does not mean you get zapped.

 

3) Cops in the Uk are expected to put up with abuse as part of the job. They are still obliged to use minimal force, and indeed I've seen far worse than this end with them reasoning with a guy. Hell I saw some cops in Brighton get urinated on by a man breaking down a door, and they calmly and politely restrained him, talked him down, and offered to simply drive him home.

 

4) Failing to react well should not mean you get instantly fired. Being a cop is damn difficult. Put before a tribunal and disciplined certainly. Fired I think is excessive. They're not flipping Supermen. They get scared and get things wrong.

 

5) The halfwits egging it all on are just pathetic. I have no problem with student activists where it means something. But being a student activist when the worst that can happen (normally) is they ring your parents... climb down off your che guevara themed high horse.

[Calax]

I suppose next they are going to go grab cattle prods for the riot squad.

[thepixiesrock]

Especially when a multiple tasered individual would have next to no ability to stand up and walk.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That's pretty ridiculous.

[~Di]

The kid was deliberately provoking everyone involved, and apparently was screeching at the gathering crowd trying to incite a riot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There's certainly no video evidence of that and the UCLA Daily Bruin reported that student witnesses denied Tabatabainejad was inciting anyone.

 

http://dailybruin.com/news/articles.asp?id=38960

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

There may not be video evidence, but according to some reports, including the UCLA Daily Bruin

the press release states "...Tabatabainejad went limp and refused to exit as the officers attempted to escort him out. The release also stated Tabatabainejad "encouraged library patrons to join his resistance." At this point, the officers "deemed it necessary to use the Taser in a "drive stun' capacity." Also, apparently the campus police are specifically empowered to use the Taser when students resist or refuse to follow orders. (BTW, UCLA campus "police" are not real police officers, from what I've been told. They are basically security guards). If that's the case, I think UCLA should rethink its policy.

 

The Daily Bruin is not an unbiased news source, lol. It's very obviously coming from one position on this, and that position is not to wait until the investigation is finished to cast blame. That said, I'd be surprised if the investigation shows any legitimate justification for multiple tasings, or tasing after the student was handcuffed. As I've already mentioned, I think both sides of this incident behaved absolutely abominably. California taxpayers will no doubt line the pockets of this student, who has already screamed "racial discrimination" and filed a lawsuit.

Edited November 20, 2006 by ~Di

[blue]

The tazer was designed as a non-lethal alternative to deadly force. The fact that it has become a compliance-tool, something of an electronic bullwhip, is despicable. It's basicly torture, and using it to get a handcuffed suspect to stand up and walk for you should be highly illegal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well said.

 

LAPD guidelines discourage the use of Tasers on passive resisters. The Sheriff's Dept explicitly forbids it. UCLA policy, otoh, allows Tasers as part of a "pain compliance technique."

 

That will probably change. An independent investigation of the incident is reviewing university security rules, including officer training and the use of non-lethal weapons. They're also examining the specific histories of those officers. Even good policies become meaningless in the hands of undisciplined professionals.

[Atreides]

I want a taser.

[Pop]

I want a taser.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You ever get one of those Ghostbusters toaster things as a kid that they trapped ghosts in? They resemble that. Still, when you hold one, you generally feel the sort of power that one feels when holding a gun. It's mostly the fact that it resembles a gun.

 

Telling factoid: When asked what stunt he most regretted doing (or that he would never consider doing again) Johnny Knoxville said getting tased was the most painful thing he'd ever experienced. And that guy snorted wasabi.

Edited November 21, 2006 by Pop

[Walsingham]

I saw that episode with Jonny. The guy is truly heroic, for all us idiots.

 

It makes much more sense that these were rentacops who did the tasering. Private security firms, from bouncers to nightwatchmen are typically run on a shoestring with virtually no selection, training, or oversight. I'd ditch the firm as a warning to the next bunch.

 

Interesting, though, isn't it, that we were so ready to accept the notion of brutal cops?

[julianw]

So police is now using taser guns on students to keep them away from studying at the library? No wonder US's education is falling behind others.

[Jorian Drake]

http://dailybruin.com/news/articles.asp?id=38958

The police were out of line.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

deja vu

[Dark_Raven]

So police is now using taser guns on students to keep them away from studying at the library? No wonder US's education is falling behind others.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It truly is a sad day. I blame Bush and his Fascism.

[Sand]

I blame Batman and his Little Boy Wonder.

[Meshugger]

So police is now using taser guns on students to keep them away from studying at the library? No wonder US's education is falling behind others.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think that this has to do with some universities being private in the US, compared to public in most of europe. When it's a private institution and the students are there on your (board of members) mercy + and everything there (facilities, books, computers, labs) are bought with private money, not public funding. This leads to a situation that learning and seeking of knowledge is a private property that needs to be protected by law enforcement.

 

I found the very concept a bit hard to grasp.

[Fenghuang]

So police is now using taser guns on students to keep them away from studying at the library? No wonder US's education is falling behind others.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It truly is a sad day. I blame Bush and his Fascism.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I totally agree. It's all Dubya's fault that rent-a-cops are jerks. He should be impeached immediately.

[Sand]

What about Batman?!?!?! That pedophiliac must be brought to justice! Foley should not pay for his crimes!!!!!!!

 

Edited November 22, 2006 by Sand

[Hurlshort]

I think that this has to do with some universities being private in the US, compared to public in most of europe. When it's a private institution and the students are there on your (board of members) mercy + and everything there (facilities, books, computers, labs) are bought with private money, not public funding. This leads to a situation that learning and seeking of knowledge is a private property that needs to be protected by law enforcement.

 

I found the very concept a bit hard to grasp.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't know much about Europe's University system, but can anyone attend college? Isn't each country different? UCLA is actually a state university, but it's not necessarily a public university. They have limited enrollment, but anyone can attend certain classes. It's complicated.

 

Also, I don't know where julianw got the impression that the US university system is failing. The k-12 education system is failing, but the university system in the US is still incredibly strong. People come from all over the world to attend US universities, public and private.

[mkreku]

Yes, in Sweden everyone can attend a college. It's just a matter of getting the grades for it, writing a university test to get the grades needed, or getting enough "life experience" points (basically by working) to get into the education you want.

 

US scientists are getting like.. 90% (rough estimation made by ME!) of all Nobel Prizes on a yearly basis. The US are the world leaders when it comes to higher grade education.

[Gorgon]

I believe that the rule is that all the officer has to do is say 'do such and such, or i'm going to taze you' - three times, and if there is no compliance they can zap away. Of course this presumes that the officer is making himself clearly understood and that the victim understands the whole three times deal.

 

 

'getoutofthecarorimgoingtotazeyougetoutofthecarorimgoingtotazeyougetoutofthec

rorimgoingtotazeyou"

 

*ZAP* is getting increasingly common.

Edited November 22, 2006 by Gorgon

[Fenghuang]

I like the US system better. If it worked that way here I would've effed up my chance for further advancement with my grades/laziness/boredom in highschool with no chance for a do-over aside from slogging away at a crap job for years on end.

 

EDIT: This is in response to mkreku's post.

Edited November 22, 2006 by Fenghuang

[Gorgon]

I suppose you are more likely to chose from a practical standpoint and apply yourself more if your parents had to put down 500.000 Se to pay for a top notch education. It's an elitist system that makes sure the children of the wealty remain in privelege, but it is effective.

[Walsingham]

I blame Batman and his Little Boy Wonder.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sand wins the thread.

 

I went a bit far back then saying we were out of line being suspicious of cops. I mean I've seen and met too many brutal cops to think we should not closely examine their actions. But I also know enough straight cops to want to not confuse bad with mistaken.

 

But I do maintain that rentacops are almost inherently rubbish, and ought to be given the minimum equipment feasible. Anyone that won't go reasonably quietly can be dealt with by the proper state authorised jackals.

[Wistrik]

*steps onto UCLA soapbox*

 

Not all buildings are public buildings, and it is expected that you will identify yourself and your business when entering many buildings. People who don't are viewed with suspicion and often asked to leave (the asking takes various forms depending on where you are, but force is almost always a last resort). In the current world climate with terrorism and nationalism running rampant, it is very foolish to enter a private building and not identify oneself. People are more suspicious of strangers than ever before. This guy apparently had a case of the stupids and figured he could just walk in and use the university resources (or whatever he intended to do.)

 

Furthermore, after committing his initial blunder, he could have kept his mouth shut and let himself be escorted out of the building on his own two feet, but no, he had to throw a tantrum and make a scene, as if he was Mr. Innocent or something (Oh Woe is me!). Then the security police erred by using excessive force and some of the students behaved immaturely and disrespectfully (big surprise).

 

The whole thing could have been avoided. Easy to say in hindsight, but it's true nonetheless.

 

*steps down*

[Walsingham]

*steps onto UCLA soapbox*

 

Not all buildings are public buildings, and it is expected that you will identify yourself and your business when entering many buildings. People who don't are viewed with suspicion and often asked to leave (the asking takes various forms depending on where you are, but force is almost always a last resort). In the current world climate with terrorism and nationalism running rampant, it is very foolish to enter a private building and not identify oneself. People are more suspicious of strangers than ever before. This guy apparently had a case of the stupids and figured he could just walk in and use the university resources (or whatever he intended to do.)

 

Furthermore, after committing his initial blunder, he could have kept his mouth shut and let himself be escorted out of the building on his own two feet, but no, he had to throw a tantrum and make a scene, as if he was Mr. Innocent or something (Oh Woe is me!). Then the security police erred by using excessive force and some of the students behaved immaturely and disrespectfully (big surprise).

 

The whole thing could have been avoided. Easy to say in hindsight, but it's true nonetheless.

 

*steps down*

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I don't really think a terrorist is going to hit a library, but then I don't understand a lot of what they do. Maybe if it is an easy target. i guess anything that causes casualties... Neverthless I think assuming everyone who tries to sly access is a terrorist may be a little unreasonable.

 

But i agree with what I think is your main point. He shouldn't have acted like such a jerk. And he shouldn't have been tasered. If the cops had being trained and capable of physically coercing him outside without the taser then fair enough.