Niagara Regional Police have decided not to go through with an appeal to try and overturn a civil ruling that found officers at fault for tasering a St. Catharines man multiple times. ...
Michael Parsons was the passenger in a Jeep stopped by police on Dec. 28, 2003 on Lundy’s Lane on the outskirts of Niagara Falls. He testified he was pulled out of the vehicle, choked, pulled into a ditch and tasered 10 to 15 times in retaliation for yelling “Hey Baby” out the window at police. [LINK] [TNT]
Another news report had mentioned that the judge had commented that if Parsons had claimed a larger amount, then he would have been awarded a larger amount. Those involved in such incidents (police leaders reviewing taser training and policy, and plaintiff's lawyers) should take this hint that six-figure judgments are now considered appropriate for taser abuse. And that's in Canada! Not exactly the Lawsuit-Central end of North America.
Also note the date of the incident: 2003. This implies that there is probably a six year backlog of similar cases working their way through the legal system.
This sort of retalitory taser abuse is crystal-clear evidence that police leadership has utterly failed to impose common sense policy on the permitted use of portable electro-torture devices. They've been wined and dined and played like a dime-store trumpet by the slick stun-gun salesmen. It's way past time to wipe off the spittle, ...and start providing the leadership expected of those that are entrusted with such critical positions.
And political leaders need to impose the sorts of recommendations arising from (for example) the Braidwood Inquiry.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment