and about the cop-hating… i don’t cops, i hate the fact that if you want to protect people, the only way you are legally permitted to do that is by enforcing a bunch of insane laws. be that as it is, most cops aren’t evil, just too stupid to realize that it is made VERY HARD for them to do any real, lasting good in society. there are some intelligent cops, and i wager that they are split between the ones who do make a real positive difference despite the largely corrupt “justice” system and those who do great harm at great personal gain because of the largely corrupt “justice” system.

Oh right, because we read too many blogs and comic books, so rational analysis isn’t really our strongpoint anymore. Innocent until proven what? Oh, that only applies to college students, not people who wear uniforms. Uniforms mean they’re guilty and if they somehow prove they’re innocent, it’s only because of a government coverup operation.

Really classy that most of Taser Int.’s argument is made up of ad hominem attacks. They make no attempt to refute their aggressiveness in intimidating independent Taser research.

Some of our cops are entirely too taser happy and really need to start going to JAIL.

“They were just doing their job” my ass.

Let’s see how long until someone implies that those poor police officers were just doing their job and it’s the immigrants fault for not speaking English.

all the cops walk, no charges. Surprise surprise.

If you are in a country who’s language and customs are alien to your experience, it can be VERY overwhelming. Organizations such as Travelers Aid are invaluable at such times, as well as having KIND and COURTEOUS staff in the disembarkation and customs areas.

Rather than focusing on the Taser part, which is merely the coda to an already insane series of events, we all might do well to look at how WE interact with strangers in places such as airports, train stations and well… hell… anywhere.

That being said, I was away while they changed all the rules and when I came home my family was supposed to be there waiting. I got off the plane and sat down for about 10 minutes before realizing I was in a “secure area” and found my family outside.

It can be confusing if you don’t know what is going on. What I don’t understand is why the guy didn’t walk around a bit or try to figure out what was going on.

Police also need to learn a few other things. I think the person who said they should learn Aikaido is partially on track. They really need to get away from coming in like they HAVE to attack the person (attack being the wrong word, but used for clarity). Notice when you see cops walking toward a group of people, they’re arm is almost always slightly elevated above their gun holster. This is an aggressive posture, and most recognise it as that. Also needed is a way to determine if the subject isn’t following orders, why they are not. Do they have something to hide or do they not understand (ie, not speak english).
The easiest thing to do, though not in all cases certainly, is to approach the subject in a non-confrontational or passive demeanor. IE…walk towards them with your hands off to the sides, like how cops have subjects walk towards them. It’s passive, and can easily have a calming effect on a subject, versus running in yelling and holding weapons. Of course, this only works if the person is not harming OTHERS (others being humans or live beings, innanimate object do not count). If the officers LIFE is in danger, they can escalate force, if they might get HURT (non-lethal) then they cannot escalate force. Getting hurt on the job is part of life, and if you take a few bruises, but save someones LIFE, I think it’s worth it. Don’t you?

Some of the relevant details that the above article fails to mention was that he was extremely violent when the police arrived (which is why they called the police). The police showed up to find someone who was throwing furniture, computers and banging on glass windows. He was either unable or unwilling to respond to police (language or state of mind).

What would you have the police do? Sounds like the perfect situation for a taser to me. Only one of the offers there had a taser. The taser automatically records every time it was used. The guy was tasered once. He than got up and continued being violent. he was tasered once more, then went into shock and died.

Now, the airports actions need some real review, but the police seem like they acted appropriately.

For better reporting, see the CBC here
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/10/14/bc-taser.html
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/10/16/bc-taser.html

In Canada, if you can’t afford a lawyer, you can go tohell. If you can afford a lawyer, you can get away with murder.

That is what you are all missing here. No single person is guilty, the authorities were doing their job, the man was panicked and out of control and Tasers are so and so and blah blah blah. The big picture is that there is a system of repression in place that gradually forces good people into more and more extreme situations. You’ve noticed that haven’t you?

That is how police states come into being. Gradually over time ordinary people are forced to compromise their values bit by bit. A little bit of heavy handedness here… he was “out of control”, perhaps some brutality there.. but that was just one “bad apple”.

It is the system in place that forces people to behave the way they do. I don’t fly but I guess we now have special “secure” holding areas. Can you guess what comes after that? I can.

Events like these will continue to grow in frequency as they become more and more extreme. You will get used to it, even come to accept it. The next one will be even more extreme just as this one is worse than any before it. And yet again rationalizations will be made and they will be right in the details and given whatever the circumstances may be. And yet they will all be wrong.

Sooner or later you will all have to choose. That is what repressive military regimes are all about. They are engines for crushing dissent and nonconformity. That is the only reason they even exist.

Pick one.

This is the choice the cops had, and it was the only choice. There is a system that Canadian cops follow, and it’s laid out in print, in black and white. Whether the guy has a knife or a paperweight or a piece of furniture, if he cannot or will not respond to orders to desist, he is to be subdued at range.

It’s unfortunate that the guy is dead, yes. But the cops did exactly the right thing and I predict that even if there is an independent inquiry, this will be borne out.

Until a man whose worst (reported) crime was throwing some furniture, wrecking a computer or two, and not knowing English, is dead.

God forbid someone show some compassion, maybe attempt to understand the situation try to figure out what was actually going on.

But then that’s what happens when one views the world through the eyes of fear.

Fact or no fact, it certainly seems as though police of all stripes are relying on tasers for situations that perhaps wouldn’t require their use. Seems like they’re being used more and more as a crutch, when it should be used as a final step before deadly force. I’d like to see some statistics on this.

Note that, in every jurisdiction I’ve ever lived in, destruction of property is never a reason for force-escalation. Not to mention that there are plenty of methods for gaining compliance, not just the baton, taser, or sidearm. Or that the guy had come off of a plane, and the chances of the guy having an honest-to-God weapon are slim to none.

In the end it wasn’t a taser that killed this man, it was fear, lack of proper training and regulation.

A sandwich, maybe a cup of coffee, or a soda if offered, could well have saved a life here. Hell, even not meeting hysterics with anger and the threat of violence would have been a step in the right direction. But since all that was attempted was the quickest, most expedient path to the end, we’ll never know.

Flame on.

5hrs [bus ride in Poland to airport]
+ 10hrs [flight]+ 10hrs [stuck in airport holding
area sans water/food]
= dehydration
- – -

HealthAtoZ.com

Delirium is a state of mental confusion that develops
quickly and usually fluctuates in intensity.

Description

Delirium is a syndrome, or group of symptoms, caused
by a disturbance in the normal functioning of the
brain. The delirious patient has a reduced awareness
of and responsiveness to the environment, which may be
manifested as disorientation, incoherence, and memory
disturbance. Delirium is often marked by
hallucinations, delusions, and a dream-like state.

Causes

There are a large number of possible causes of
delirium. Metabolic disorders are the single most
common cause, accounting for 20-40% of all cases.

This type of delirium, termed “metabolic
encephalopathy,” may result from organ failure,
including liver or kidney failure. Other metabolic
causes include diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism and
hypothyroidism, vitamin deficiencies, and imbalances
of fluids and electrolytes in the blood.

Severe dehydration can also cause delirium…

But i’m not going to ask a police officer to go in with his bare hands to subdue a man who’s being violent and throwing things. Lawe enforcement is not an honorable contest where equal ground must be maintained.

The issue is that whether it be pepper spray, or nightsticks, accidental deaths can still happen. But i’d prefer they use pepper spray over tazers.

Well, obviously we can’t have that. Clearly he had to be killed.

It’s good that so many people are eager to explain this. I understand completely now.

Don’t miss our next episode: “Look What You Made Me Do, You Stupid Bitch.” As performed by 5,271,009 drive-by blog commenters, all of whom are completely rational in the preternatural consistency with which they defend the right of the powerful to dominate and destroy the powerless. Hope that gig keeps working out for y’all!

How can I emphasize this phrase more? What the police did, was very wrong. Communication was something they were lacking. They could of brought in an interpreter.

I am Croatian but born in Canada. My parents immigrated here many years ago and I know what it was like for them. Coming to a new country and not knowing anyone, just imagine this and with little money but they worked so hard all their lives to build a life for their family and do you want to know something? My parents gave us everything we ever wanted and taught us good morals and values that we will carry for the rest of our lives.

This Polish man will never be able to start a family or make a living in Canada because he is vanished from this earth because of a wrong decision by 4 police officers.

What image of Canada will other immigrants have of our Country now?

Violence is not the answer!

How about Pepper spray? You still get the occasional allergic or shock reaction and deaths, not to mention a far harder weapon to apply selectively.

The police need some way to deal with violent people who won’t calm down or respond to vocal means. What would you rather have them do? What was the good choice here? What happened was tragic, yes, but what should the police have done differently?