Beaverton, OR - Jamal Green, 34, is disabled, with serious cognitive impairments. His lawyer says it is difficult for Green to understand and follow orders. Green was attempting to get home using the public transit system. He initially got on a bus that wasn't operating, when two officers - one a Beaverton Police officer and the other from Portland - working for Portland's Transit Police, approached Green. They instructed Green to show his hands. Green says that he didn't understand the commands as he was confused why the officers wanted to see his hands. The police report indicates that the first officer warned Green he would use a taser, then did so. Then the other officer, who deemed the first tasering ineffective, tasered Green a second time. [LINK]
Even if one reviews this report with an open mind about the actions of the two officers, it is very difficult not to feel that their entire approach was defective from the start. Clearly their 'training' (sic) is all about dealing with criminals, and so they treat everyone as a criminal, even the disabled. It's a 'false positive' problem that has implications for the safety of everyone.
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