I'm actually surprised so many bicyclists here are so quick to come to the defense of the cop using the taser on the bicyclist. It surprises me, because some of you may not have perfect hearing, and may have had an experience of losing balance on two wheels and crashing.
What kind of idiot would tase a citizen who is precariously balanced on a mechanical device, and is not a threat to anyone?
It seems to me the cop was just indignant over anyone defying his absolute authority. Is that worthy of the death penalty?
In the SOP I signed off on as a deputy, was an acknowledgement of the legal constraints on use of deadly force. And as it's turning out, taser is proving to be deadly to an appreciable number of citizens.
Instead of taser, the officer should have used pepper spray, as that gets the attention of non-compliant persons without endangering their physical safety while balanced in a precarious position on a bicycle.
Last edited by xizangstan; 11-27-11 at 08:34 AM.