It's a good thing the officers had their tasers with them and were able to zap these violent guys.
We don't need more dead cops.

Another two examples of inappropriate tasering. One guy in shock...paramedics deal with this type of behavior all the time....and the second one was walking away. Both impaired.

Just had to play with the toys I guess.

1st guy was handled in a proper manner given the information at hand.

2nd guy has a 3 foot sword! he is lucky that a 9mm was not used in this case....service revolver may have been warranted if needed in this case would it not?

Just more examples of booze and drugs working against us.

Good for the cops! Taser use sounds completely acceptable in each of these situations. Come on, tinyapplecork, You don't know the extent of this guys injuries or if it in fact was shock. Lets try not to insert our own guess' as fact.

Anyone here ever been tasered? I was once. When they were issued in Port Alberni I was covering the story and was asked to be part of their demonstration. It hurts like hell for a minute or so, but it really is not as bad as it looks. I was back on my feet 5 seconds later pulling the little barb out of my chest.

I dunno about you guys, but if I ever rob a store and end up charging at Cops (Not going to happen but hypothetically speaking) I hope they have tasers. I've never been shot with a 9mm but Im sure it hurts more than that taser did.

My only payment was to shoot the cop that shot me. Payment enough in my mind.

"Come on, tinyapplecork, You don't know the extent of this guys injuries or if it in fact was shock. Lets try not to insert our own guess' as fact."

I have the same info you do Matt. My opinion is different from yours, no guess work involved.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/health/shock.html

This article explains shock.

Pale, cool and clammy skin.
Anxiety, agitation or confusion.
Dizziness, light-headedness or faintness.
A rapid but weak pulse.
Shallow breathing.
Bluish lips or fingernails.
Chest pain.

I'd like to hear both sides and from any witnesses before I believe either side but really the taser has to go period.

I'm wondering when the taser is being tested on a person if they are only tasered or are they tasered multiple times, tossed over onto their chest/face in floor, officers knees crushing into their back/neck (with all their weight)while having their arms ripped back and cuffed? Wouldn't that make a heck of a story? ;) Ouch!!!

I don't see how the officers couldn't have taken down the first guy that was talked about without a weapon.

Matt you got the feel good taser. Lets see how you feel with three long good shots which is the usual, not a media feel good.

I was hit three times in row seamutt. The usual, as you say.

tinyapplecork, I know what shock is. I dont see how you have this guys medical condition pinned down by what was written in the article. Sounds like he was overly drunk to me. But I wasnt there.

To tell you guys the absolute truth, I am just really tired of our Police force being crapped on by the public every time they try and do their jobs. The way they protect our city is extremely admirable. It would be nice if people would have less of a bleeding heart for the criminals and more respect for the cops.

Agreed Matt. There are many posters on here who just plain don't like the police no matter what.

Let's get rid of the tasers and go back to good old guns and batons!

totaly agree Matt If I were a police officer I think I would be more tempted to use the 9mm on some of the crooks out there
If they tell you, you are going to be arrested and you continue to resist I would be very tempted to use a 9mm insteed of a taser

"It would be nice if people would have less of a bleeding heart for the criminals and more respect for the cops."

Criminals? Was there a crime? Is being drunk a crime? Is having a mental problem a crime? One of the guys was taken in under the Mental Health Act. Can you not read???????

Some of these people simply have not taken their meds!!!!

I wish some of you would display at least a little bit of understanding of the difference between someone who robs, steals and someone who is under mental distress.

The world is not black and white and a bunch of simpletons thinking it is does not help dealing with such real life situations.

"The first incident took place on July 12th at noon. Ft. St. John members got a report that a male had been assaulted by several other males on 100th avenue near the Condill Hotel.

Upon the members arrival they located the alleged victim, who appeared to have injuries to his head and face"

This is the guy's MEDICAL condition Matt! Or did you just choose to skip this info?

Either way, there is a place for tasers. IMO, neither of these instances were the place to use them.

Bless your brain owl. You have a good night.

The crime is attacking a Police officer. Can you not read? The mental health act is so vast that it could mean he was a violent schizophrenic or it could mean he is chronically depressed. He attacked a cop. He was dealt with appropriatley. I know its not a black and white issue but the Cops were lacking alot of info when they were on the scene as well. Did he have a transmittable disease? Who knows? Did he have a weapon? Who knows? By using a taser there was no major hand to hand combat resulting in less risk for the officer. The guy is fine and hopefully they catch the guys who beat him up in the first place.

tinyapplecork, you said he was in shock. Where does it say he was in shock? ............Exactly. I'm not skipping info but you are adding it.

The crime is attacking a Police officer. Can you not read? The mental health act is so vast that it could mean he was a violent schizophrenic or it could mean he is chronically depressed. He attacked a cop. He was dealt with appropriatley. I know its not a black and white issue but the Cops were lacking alot of info when they were on the scene as well. Did he have a transmittable disease? Who knows? Did he have a weapon? Who knows? By using a taser there was no major hand to hand combat resulting in less risk for the officer. The guy is fine and hopefully they catch the guys who beat him up in the first place.

tinyapplecork, you said he was in shock. Where does it say he was in shock? ............Exactly. I'm not skipping info but you are adding it.

Was there any female cops involved?? Not to be disrespectful, but when the RCMP allowed women to join the force, the size standard went down! Yes, for men too!! We now have smaller cops that need these extra utensils. I say, go back to the old school!!! If you want to do the job, fine!!! The requirements are the same!! You must be 5' 11" min. and weigh enough to take down a big guy with your bare hands!! They always could do it before, what happened???

I watched a female cop cuff a guy outside a local night club a few years ago!! Oh she got him in the handcuffs, but couldn't get him in the cruiser!! She had to call for back up!!

Please, don't give me the BS about how good our policing is. It is all over the media about how bad it has become!!

"Please, don't give me the BS about how good our policing is. It is all over the media about how bad it has become!!"

Not even just the media taxinapothole (love the name) but also word of mouth. I cannot believe the stories i've been hearing about SOME officers since i've been unwillingly involved with all this. Shameful!!!

Matt i know a lot of you radio/tv guys are friends with officers but don't let the honour of the badge they wear get too thick because one day you might just get the shock of your life. Trust me it can happen. I never would've thought it was this bad honestly and got a shock of my own. I just hope the officers I know stay true! :)

Matt it stands to reason that after anybody suffers an attack and has injuries to his head and face will suffer from shock. One is taught this in first aid.

There are consequences for bad behaviour. The cops have to defend themselves against these drunken, drugged up bullies.

"Criminals? Was there a crime? Is being drunk a crime? Is having a mental problem a crime?"

Acting in a threatening manner (with a sword no less!) and assaulting a police officer are crimes owl. The police dealt with the issue.

It doesn't matter what the medical condition of the person was. Somebody who is off their meds or in an altered state of mind are more than capable of assault and bodily harm to themselves and others.

I really would love to see what the bleeding hearts would have done in the same situation.

"Matt it stands to reason that after anybody suffers an attack and has injuries to his head and face will suffer from shock. One is taught this in first aid."

You don't know how bad the injuries were. Every head injury doesnt equal shock.

You said,
"One guy in shock...paramedics deal with this type of behavior all the time....and the second one was walking away. Both impaired."

You are posting your guess' as fact. You don't know that he was in shock but you have no problem telling everyone that he was without first having conclusive evidence.

"Matt it stands to reason that after anybody suffers an attack and has injuries to his head and face will suffer from shock. One is taught this in first aid."

You don't know how bad the injuries were. Every head injury doesnt equal shock.

You said,
"One guy in shock...paramedics deal with this type of behavior all the time....and the second one was walking away. Both impaired."

You are posting your guess' as fact. You don't know that he was in shock but you have no problem telling everyone that he was without first having conclusive evidence.

First of all....no offense intended....but opinions are like butts..we all have them...some are stinky...but they are ours.Second of all...the concensus seems to be that tasers are bad being used by cops. The guys were impaired, the police were called to correct these incidents..which is their job to serve and protect. This does not mean that when a drunk person gets combative that they are to back away and hope he doesn't injure himself or someone else. How are they to know by simply observing that he did not intend to hurt them? They need to protect themselves first and control the situation. Why is it ok that criminals or criminal like behavior warrants more rights than the general public? I agree with Matt...I would rather be tasered than shot..shooting seems so final. Mental Health issues are not a crime, but I didn't know police officers were supposed to diagnose that immediatly upon arriving on scene. I know being drunk is not a crime but drinking to excess has been medically proven to impair thought processes. Was the impaired fella wearing a sign that said "If I am drunk this is the manner in which I will behave" so the police knew what to expect out of him? It's getting so that police cannot do their jobs for fear of public retaliation. I myself would certainly not like a police force that walked on eggshells around criminals, drunk or otherwise.

Hey Matt, since when is an opinion a statement of fact???

You didnt post your comment as an opinion. "One guy in shock...paramedics deal with this type of behavior all the time" You didnt say "maybe he was in shock" you said "One guy in shock" Like you were on the scene when it happened. Its all in the way you write your post. You posted it as a fact.....not an opinion.

Good post, IBCDNCHK. Police need to protect the public and themselves first and foremost. It seems like common sense to me but the old saying seems to be true......common sense is not so common.

that last post was me by the way......The site was signed in to one of my coworkers accounts and I didnt realise before I posted.

Whenever I watch the police in India wade into a mob, they have these long sticks. I bet they smart if you get swatted by one. Maybe the cops here in NA could trade their tasers for these sticks. Works in India to get a point across. Why not here?