Tazers

[spudchucka]

AFAIK, our own police have the same requirement on use of OC spray - you don't get issued it until you've experienced it - and I'll bet the same will apply to Tasers.

Not exactly. Recruits get the option of experiencing it, it isn't compulsary though. There are usually three or four that will put there hands up and take a dose and then their mates have to help them with after care. Most cops would have experienced it to some degree though, you can't deploy the stuff in a confined space without inhaling some and there is always the risk of blow-back in an outdoors situation. One of the funniest things I've ever seen was a cop with his head out the passenger side window like a dog because he'd been sprayed accidentally and needed the cool air blowing on his face.

Good write up on that crazy seppo woman too by the way.

[Wolf]

...the Gang Banger who got sprayed, had no effect, and when finally back at the station, went for a piss...he had the stuff on his hands by then after wiping it...he suddenly became not so tough when his meat and two veg was on fire...

I am a wicked person and Amnesty International should refuse donations from me. I laughed hard at that one.

Call me brave or stupid, but I would actually be willing to be sprayed and tased (under controlled conditions) so I may better understand what the effects are - not willing to go through all the rigamarole of training to be a cop or act like an aggro dick in front of cops just to get the opportunity, tho'.

Strangely, I'd not be willing to experienced being shot with a 9mm in the CoM at close range, though (a foolish mishap involving a partly charged CO2 airpistol and the palm of my hand at close range felt bad enough) - not even with a certified Level III balistic vest on.

[spudchucka]

BTW You can't get more conservative than the NBR.

The NBR poll is more about headlines to create controversy in order to sell their rag than it is about anything else.

Its obvious public confidence has slipped but I don't belive it is as bad as you make out. I base that comment on the responses that I receive from the public every single day, not on some survey.

And as Patrick has pointed out in this thread, cops have been critiscising the 111 call taking and despatch system for a hell of a lot longer than you would realise. The only difference is that we believed it would take the death of a cop resulting from the systemic failures before anything would be done, instead it took the dissapearance of the Asher girl before it got the overhaul it required.

[Wolf]

And as Patrick has pointed out in this thread, cops have been critiscising the 111 call taking and despatch system for a hell of a lot longer than you would realise.

You have made that point yourself in previous FTP threads on this forum, yet the FAWOMFT of "the 111 system is the cops' fault" persists. **Puzzled**

[Ixion]

Once upon a time I spent several years working quite a bit with oleo resin of capsaicin. (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide for any chemists here) . Very nasty stuff.

Had to do the full monty hazardous drill, only handled in a pressurised room, full suit, external air supply to hood and mask. Gloves boots etc.

Immediate transfer to hospital in the event of contact.

Very nasty. It can certainly be lethal, induces respiratory collapse. Unlikely in a fit healthy youing male, but definately possible with elderly, very young, or respiratory impaired persons.

Anyone who volunteers to be exposed to the stuff is an idiot.

[Paul in NZ]

Just as long as people realise (and I've said this before)...

Just as not all shootings with leathal weapons are fatal, not all zappings with non-leathal weapons are NON fatal.

Tazers and spray etc can be deadly in certain circumstances. Just like a good whacking with a baton can easily kill someone...

Its sad enough that we even need a police force in the first place and sadder still that we need to ramp up their armaments. I'm all for the Police protecting themselves but also I'd rather someone spend a bit of time trying to sort out the social issues that require our police to need these things.

[Patrick]

You have made that point yourself in previous FTP threads on this forum, yet the FAWOMFT of "the 111 system is the cops' fault" persists. **Puzzled**

Missed the earlier comments but... many in the call centres aren't even cops anymore, but generally, they do a bloody great job (yeah, the taxi thing was a major, doesn't get much worse really.....and the farmer incident, ringing the nieghbour to help was a dodgy call...neighbour arrives or confronts them as they leave and gets shot too???...)

"Is the cops fault"...?????? The majority in Control Rooms used to be cops...blame the new minority? Or perhaps it is the 3 (yes, only three) call centres for the entire country...(used to have one in each major city...and it worked...don't recall any taxis ever being sent...)

Lessons always to be learned...who or what is perfect? Shania TWAIN would be close in my books though...damn...!!! (but that is another thread...)

[Lou Girardin]

The NBR poll is more about headlines to create controversy in order to sell their rag than it is about anything else.

Its obvious public confidence has slipped but I don't belive it is as bad as you make out. I base that comment on the responses that I receive from the public every single day, not on some survey.

It's not as bad as I make out, it's as bad as everybody, but the ostriches, believe.
As for media bias, don't they always seem to be biased when they print something one doesn't agree with. As The Herald showed on Tuesday when they printed letters from National and Labour supporters both accusing them of bias towards the other party.

[Wolf]

As The Herald showed on Tuesday when they printed letters from National and Labour supporters both accusing them of bias towards the other party.

Hah, absolute insanity, as we all know they're biased towards MacGillicuddy Serious Party...

[Lou Girardin]

Hah, absolute insanity, as we all know they're biased towards MacGillicuddy Serious Party...

I really miss them, Winnie is a pale imitation.

[Wolf]

I really miss them, Winnie is a pale imitation.

Some days he can be funnier than them

[spudchucka]

As for media bias, don't they always seem to be biased when they print something one doesn't agree with.

I'm not talking about media bias. I'm suggesting that that particular poll was conducted at a time, following a number of very high profile controversies, that ensured the poll results showed a dramatic drop in confidence. The results are a good indication of the publics gulability towards media hype and the level of editorial instict of the NBR to spot a commercial opportunity.

[spudchucka]

Just as not all shootings with leathal weapons are fatal, not all zappings with non-leathal weapons are NON fatal.

Tazers and spray etc can be deadly in certain circumstances. Just like a good whacking with a baton can easily kill someone...

Any use of force is potentially lethal. A push in the chest could cause a person to fall and crack their skull, a punch to the head could cause a hemorage etc etc.

[spudchucka]

Once upon a time I spent several years working quite a bit with oleo resin of capsaicin. (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide for any chemists here) . Very nasty stuff.

Had to do the full monty hazardous drill, only handled in a pressurised room, full suit, external air supply to hood and mask. Gloves boots etc.

Immediate transfer to hospital in the event of contact.

Very nasty. It can certainly be lethal, induces respiratory collapse. Unlikely in a fit healthy youing male, but definately possible with elderly, very young, or respiratory impaired persons.

Anyone who volunteers to be exposed to the stuff is an idiot.

The stuff we use is a very low dose, around 3 - 5% I think. Most US jurisdictions use a stronger brew, around 10%. The original Mace was a mixture of O/C and CS gas, now thats nasty!

[spudchucka]

You have made that point yourself in previous FTP threads on this forum, yet the FAWOMFT of "the 111 system is the cops' fault" persists. **Puzzled**

FAWOMFT ???

WTF does that mean???