Monday, July 07, 2008

So Much For That Idea

Part of the sell for keeping tasers in the hands of the police involves only letting veteran officers (in NYC, that's sergeants) wield the devices. With officers like this, forgive me if I'm still skeptical about future taser abuse:
Deputy suspended for using taser on wife

BRANDON- A veteran Hillsborough County Deputy has been arrested for tasering his wife and putting a gun to her head.

38-year-old Deputy Carlos Tanner [pic at that link] was dinking and got into a dispute with his wife, Kristine.

Deputy Tanner pushed his wife on the bed, removed his HCSO taser from his service belt, and tasered her on the stomach four times, causing burns.

He then got his service handgun, and put it to her head for a few moments.

Deputy Tanner fled to a friend’s house, and was later arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence.

He has been placed on administrative leave without pay.

That abuse dovetails nicely with that committed by the veteran deputy who tased people for fun at a party.