Please respond to the following 2 classmates with 250 words EACH, at least
1 cited reference EACH, and 1 biblical viewpoint with a cited scripture.
Original Discussion Post (Do not respond to this post, this is just to let you
know what my classmates were talking about) On November 11, 2009, Ozark
Arkansas police officer Dustin Bradshaw was dispatched to a domestic
disturbance between a mother and her 10-year-old daughter. When he
arrived, the girl was curled up on the floor screaming and kicking. Her mother
told the officer the crisis began when the girl refused to take a shower. Officer
Bradshaw attempted to take the young girl into custody, but she continued to
violently kick at him. It was then that the girl's mother gave officer Bradshaw
permission to use a Conducted Electrical Weapon (TASER, for purposes of
this discussion) in an effort to gain control of the girl. According to his report
he delivered a very brief stun to her back. It was enough to disable her, and
after placing handcuffs on the child, officer Bradshaw carried the 65-pound girl
to his squad car. His actions were later determined to be in compliance with
department policy, and ultimately, he received a short suspension with pay
only for not engaging his video camera during the incident.
A growing number of children in America are finding themselves on the
receiving end of a police officer's TASER. A 14-year-old in Chicago went into
cardiac arrest after being Tased in 2005. In that same year a 6-year-old
Florida boy threatening to cut himself with a piece of glass was Tased by
police, as well as a 12-year-old girl guilty only of skipping school. And in 2010
two federal lawsuits were filed in Illinois, each seeking $10 million, after a
Kankakee police officer Tased two 12-year-olds in their school classroom just
to demonstrate how the weapon works. These are just a few of the many
reported incidents.
The idea of using such a weapon on a child continues to be hotly debated.
Most police departments allow for its use with children in certain situations,
and the makers of the Taser gun argue that it is a safe and effective weapon
for gaining control of an unmanageable person, even a child. They argue that
although it is painful and disabling, it has no lasting effects, and its use may
even prevent the child from harming themselves much more seriously by
continuing to struggle.
Discussion Questions (select one of the following questions and draft a
response according to the directions outlined in the Assignments folder and
Syllabus located in the Course Content section)
1. Should there be limits placed on the types of weapons a police officer
may use against a child?
2. Is there an even greater risk of harm or civil liability related to a police
officer physically subduing a child with their hands?
3. Should a child’s parents grant or rescind permission to police for Taser
use on their uncontrollable child.
1.Peak- I think that in order to have an accurate understanding of the use of
tasers, specifically among children, one must have an adequate
understanding of both sides of the argument.There have actually been some
studies conducted that claim that tasers can be harmful. In the article, Police
Use of Tasers: The Truth is "Shocking" by Seals (2007), they claim that
“Besides fatalities, an array of health risks has been associated with taser
shocks as well” (p.115). They go on to say that “Direct injuries from the impact
of the taser include abrasions, scarring, and eye damage from the laser
aiming aid” ( p.115). Seals (2007) states, “Taser International also cautions of
secondary injury risks, which may occur as the result of falls from loss of
control. (p.116). Not only are there health risks, but there have been deaths
associated with the use of tasers. Seals (2007) states, “Although a taser can
be a life-saving device when deployed in the appropriate situation, the lack of
regulation and questionable use by police officers, combined with the
associated health risks and fatalities, has led police taser use to become a
serious and controversial issue. The increasing number of deaths following
police use of tasers, especially those in which a taser shock has been listed
as the primary cause of death, is alarming” (p.137). Some have other views
on the use of tasers and what it entails. Sierra‐Arévalo (2018) states, “Today,
the TASER is a ubiquitous less-than-lethal force technology lauded for its
ability to curb police officers' use of excessive and lethal force” (p.420).I have
a personal opinion that in certain circumstances, such as where there is an
uncontrollable child or there are lives at risk, a weapon such as a taser is
reasonable. I feel that in certain times, due in part to the nature and nurture of
a child’s upbringing, there may be a perception that there are no
accountability and consequences for their actions. In a real world scenario,
however, there definitely are consequences to actions. Not every situation
consists of a child that has this mindset, but I do feel that this is the case
often. As mentioned, although it is painful and disabling, it has no lasting
effects, and its use may even prevent the child from harming themselves
much more seriously by continuing to struggle. Understanding that there are
consequences to action at an early age I feel can lead to a more profitable
and understanding human being, thus creating a more efficient society.
Proverbs 2:6 reads, “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh
knowledge and understanding.”
References
Proverbs 2:6 (KJV). (2020). Bible
Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Prove...
Seals, E. (2007). Police Use of Tasers: The Truth is "Shocking", 38 Golden
Gate U. L. Rev. http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/ggulrev/vol38/iss1/4
Sierra‐Arévalo, M. (2018). Technological Innovation and Police Officers’
Understanding and Use of Force. Law & Society Review, 53(2), 420–
451. https://doi.org/10.1111/lasr.12383
2.Pritchett- Oh goodness, this is actually tricky, at first I read this thinking this
would be an easy answer but it really is not. An officer would probably get in
trouble if they used their hands too. I do not think an officer should not have to
use a weapon of any kind unless someone is in danger, this could be the child
being a threat to themselves, the child about to hurt someone else, or if the
officer intervened without a weapon the child would hurt the officer. An officer
should be able to handle a child who does not have a weapon, without using
their weapon, unless this child is large and the officer just cannot physically
restrain the child. The only limit I think an officer should have when it comes to
using a weapon on a child is to follow their policy. In some incidents, children
want to behave like criminals and just because they are children does not
mean they are allowed to do whatever they want and get away with it or hurt
someone because of the fact that law enforcement is not allowed to subdue
them. The policy for Michigan State police says that tasers cannot be used on
children unless exigent circumstances exist. This would mean absolutely
necessary or extremely urgent (MSU, 2020). The Seattle Police Department’s
policy only talks about the use of their canine dogs against juveniles. The
policy said that they will not let the canine dogs loose on juvenile offenders
except under certain circumstances and it also lists that in their policy (Diaz,
2021). Every department should have in their policy what weapon they can or
cannot use on a child and the exceptions with each. If a department does not
have this in their policy and an officer has to end up using one of these
weapons on a child one day, I am sure a big lawsuit would be in either that
officer or that department’s future. Officers must be trained on how to de-
escalate situations, CIT crisis intervention teams. Officers need to be able to
know every tactic to use before having to resort to using a weapon on a child.
But, there can very well be times when it will be necessary. Like MSU Policy
stated, except for exigent circumstances. An officer could only have five
seconds to make a life or death decision and not have time to use any crisis
intervention tactics to calm a child down. It is still extremely important for
departments to have policies and training about children and how to handle
them though.
References
Diaz, A. (2021). 8.300 - Use of Force Tools - Police Manual | seattle.gov.
Seattle.Gov. http://www.seattle.gov/police-manual/title-8---use...
MSU. (2020). Policy: Use of Force and Weapons – MSU Police.
Police.Msu.Edu. https://police.msu.edu/about/policy-and-procedure/...
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Question 3. Should a child’s parents grant or rescind permission to police for Taser use on
their uncontrollable child?
To handle children is the sole responsibility of the parent or the guardian. It varies depending on
how a child responds. To take uncontrollable children, especially those that get out of hand at
times, should consider any effect on their health. Is it, therefore, right or wrong to call the police
to mitigate this? Parents should understand the roles of officers and therefore not involve them in
parental administration roles. Not only should officers be involved, but also any weapons
assigned to them should not be used. Weapons such as teasers were meant to be used on armed
criminals and may lead to harmful effects on the child.
Response to Peak;
Before we judge the tasers concept, we need to understand how it functions; the idea of
delivering a particular amount of electricity to an individual may not be easily understandable to
every individual. I agree with you that before we pick a side of the argument, we have to have
the basics of information given from both sides (Seals, 2007). Despite the reported and
confirmed number of injuries associated with tasers, there have been various instances where
tasers have been used to neutralize multiple people with no need to use weapons. The article's
truth is shocking by Seals (2007) is a true reflection of how the taser has negatively affected
individuals. Therefore, we need to regulate the use even though it is an effective weapon.
Regulation is in terms of the amount of electricity administered to an individual and has places in
which the teaser can and cannot be used.
This measure will mitigate the number of deaths from the taser. In the instance where police use
the teaser with or without the consent of the adult, guardian, or parent, the officer should know
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the number of joules to use but mainly the other methods to solve without applying the teaser.
Just as in 1st Corinthians 6: 12-13where everything is said to be permissible, but not everything is
beneficial in this case study. We should further clarify the after-effects of using a teaser to avoid
future -adverse effects arising to the user. We are left to determine if it is indispensable to use a
teaser on a child?
1st Corinthians 6:12-13 (KJV). (2020). Bible
Seals, E. (2007). Police Use of Tasers: The Truth is "Shocking," 38 Golden Gate U. L.
Rev. http://digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu/ggulrev/vol38/iss1/4
Response to Pritchett;
I agree that reading the article is a bit scary because we associate electricity with death as an
immediate cause when an individual gets into contact with it. Further, officers should be taught
how to calm a hostile situation and make teaser the last option; its effects range from mental
health to physical harm, which can be avoided. It can be argued that the child would harm the
officer, but there are practical ways that do not involve the use of weapons. It is permissible for
the officer to use the gun if the child shows more aggressive signs and draws out their gun. I
support the laws of guidance by Michigan officers to only use teasers on children in critical
circumstances (MSU, 2020).
Even though the use of canines would more or less be harmful to children, they may instill fear
and give the children a direction to follow. Each department must introduce weapons control
measures, especially to children (Diaz, 2021). An unguided police officer may cause harm due to
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the exposure they have on weapons and a crowd. There should be guiding laws, but there should
be, and further, there should be training to ensure they understand their roles. I also believe that
parents should be taught how to handle children, significantly to calm them either by applying
force or peacefully. The application of tactics should be in measures to ensure that no one Is hurt
during the process. On the side, officers and parents should know how to make a drastic decision
in a matter of seconds; the most prominent solution to get a child to control is guided by the bible
in Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old, he will not
depart from it.
References
Diaz, A. (2021). 8.300 - Use of Force Tools - Police Manual | seattle.gov.
Seattle.Gov. http://www.seattle.gov/police-manual/title-8---use...
MSU. (2020). Policy: Use of Force and Weapons – MSU
Police. Police.Msu.Edu. https://police.msu.edu/about/policy-and-procedure/...
NKJ Proverbs 22:6
