Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum LEO, what are your thoughts?

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So someone is suing Argo PD for excessive force. The article links to a body cam video of the tasing. I'm interested to hear what the LEOs on the board think of the situation. Did the guy get tased unnecessarily? Did the officer truly use excessive force? Now, I'm not a LEO, so my knowledge of proper procedure, etc is zero. Seems to me, from looking at the video, that the officer was aggressive. But, I don't think he did anything wrong. He used non-lethal means to subdue the guy. This happened on I-59, so the environmental stressors were pretty high with traffic flowing at 70+ mph all around him. Is this just another frivolous lawsuit?

who the heck knows what really happened. Who ya going to believe??? A lawyer defending a client or a cop whose report looks like it was well rehearsed.

a 70 year old will kill you dead as hell, age should not be a factor...

Well, there is a video. Looks like it was a little much for a 70 year old man that was still seat belted into his truck. Why do cops have to yell all the profanity? It would certainly look better on film and in court without it.

Me, being in the public service myself, usually side with the officers in these type cases. LEO have an extremely tough job that is now even harder as of late. I respect them and what they do.

With that being said, I think this guy was WAYYY to quick on the draw of that taser, he also taxed him several times in a row while yelling at the guy to get out! The old man couldn't freaking move because he was being lit up! I don't know their protocols, but if I were an officer, I could have handled that old guy without a taser. In my mind, I'm using a taser on people that are being aggressive and are are larger/stronger than I am in order to level the playing field.

The docs say the 70 year old was experiencing low blood sugar. I can't watch the video here at work, but if this is the case, I can understand the man not responding to the officers commands as low blood sugar can cause major problems. He's fortunate the man stopped the vehicle and didn't cause a wreck before doing so. On the video, does it appear that the suspect is somewhat incoherent or mostly incoherent?

A LEO always has to be alert and cautious. I would bet LEO thought he was pursuing a DUI, cause he started acting totally different when the guy told him he was a diabetic or his adrenaline was subsiding.

Personally I think he deployed the taser a little too quick.

I would hate to be a cop.

He was freaking going down the wrong side of the interstate. I think he deployed taser a little fast. Who knows what was going through the LEO's mind.

For reference, Argo is a pretty small town. They might have a whopping 2 officers on duty at any one time, so I wonder how much of the officer's reaction was due to inexperience with this type of scenario. Nobody died so it turned out ok, I guess.

I would say they are going to have to pay that man. The cop never gave him a chance to do anything before he used the taser and then continued to hit him with it while yelling. He never gave the guy a chance to get out.

A perfect example of why people have a bad opinion of officers, this guy is a poster child for excessive force.

Officers have a difficult job. The guy ain't dead, recovered from it and no one else was injured. Guy needs to move on.

I understand leo have to make the split second decision or consequences can turn fatal but in my opinion that officer needs to be off the job and go do something else before he kills someone. I personally hope he never works in that profession ever again. On a funnier side "Hands up,elderly lives matter to"

Pay the man, and Barney Fyfe needs to be relieved of duty. At the 6:40 mark he tells the officer he was suffering from diabetic insulin problems and the cop says if so, he would not charge him. Yet the hospital confirmed the medical problem and they still charged him with resisting arrest, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and eluding. Just for the hell of it they should let the man tase the cop in the balls for 30 or 40 minutes. The officer was wrong.

That would be fine as long as they hold me to the same standard when I get pissed off at a cop or just someone in general that is doing something stupid. Doubt that will fly though.

I pretty much agree with all the comments everyone gave so far. But quoted this one as it was the only one to bring up the "no charging" comment by the officer. I would've thought that in and of itself would gotten the old man off there. But after saying that I am reminded that the great majority of time cases brought by the police are most always won on the Municiple/District level. On appeal to Circuit with a Jury things are much different. I know on DUI cases once appealed to Circuit it always about a 50/50% win and loose. Hard to find 12 folks at the same time that doesn't do it themselves or have friends and family that do so its much harder to get a conviction in Circuit.

I thought the Officer was way to aggressive given the "Totality of Circumstances" I do not know him nor his level of experience but after 14 years of Law Enforcement myself (now semi-retired) based on the video alone He surely either needs more training or better yet may actually not be fit mentally himself for Law Enforcement period. I know that may not set well with many of them but I've been around and I've seen a lot myself. Yeah I've made some dumb mistakes too but honestly it's not for everyone. I do believe in gifts, callings and talents come from God and not everyone can be a veterinarian, a doctor, nurse, or whatever, likewise not everyone can just attend a Police Academy, then get in a car and call themselves a Police Officer. They may very well be doing that but you'll continue to watch videos and read news articles just like that a many far worse.

Just my opinion, Grace!

It depends on what their TASER Policy is. If it is like most of the TASER policies, the officer was too quick to use it. The man appeared to be trying to comply but was never given the chance to. I don't believe the City of Argo wants this one to go to trial.

Not all 70-year-olds move quickly.

Yet if this older man had moved too quickly he likely would have been tased or shot.

Argo: No Place for Old Men

a 70 year old man. MY dad worked as a leo and had respect for people. What a coward this officer is. The old man was strapped in his seat and didn'tlook to be a threat. Again what a coward.

This
Either way he gets shot.
I think he was ready to pull the trigger before he even got to the truck.

that officer is done and the city will pay IMO