The Police, Tasers, And Kids

Just about everyone has heard about the kids shot with "taser" guns. Two cases have come to the forefront recently.

• A 6 year-old boy was "tasered" in Miami, Florida. He had threatened himself and others with a "shard of glass" in the principal's office. After cutting himself on the leg, the police let him have several jolts with the gun.
• A 12 year-old girl was "tasered" (again in Miami) when she refused to comply with a police officer's directive to "halt" while running away from him. According to the officer, the girl was beginning to run into a busy thoroughfare.

We here at the 'Wonks think that in the case of the 6 year-old, the tasering was justified. The boy had made good on his threat to hurt himself. He therefore presented a "clear and present danger" to himself.

The case of the 12 year-old isn't so clear-cut. (sorry) Even though she had disregarded the officer's command to "halt," she was seemingly not, at that time, presenting a danger to herself or others. What needs to be examined further was what happened at the edge of the roadway.

Was the girl indeed beginning to run into traffic? If the answer is yes, then the danger presented was to herself and the drivers/passengers in the vehicles. Use of the taser was justified.

If the answer is "no," then the officer's actions would need to undergo more review to see if they were in compliance with existing police department guidelines. Our guess here at the 'Wonks is that the only time a restraint may be used is to protect persons or property. If those are the guidelines, then the officer may be subject to disciplinary action.

The 'Wonks believe that the officer should be given the benefit of every doubt. All things being equal, and absent any evidence to the contrary, the testimony of a sworn peace officer must be taken at face value.

Your EdWonk is curious to know if there may be something in the water down in Florida...

Mortarboard Tip: West Coast Chaos