Stun Gun Used On Handcuffed, 65-Pound, 13-Year-Old Girl

[docwebster]

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- State Attorney Harry Shorstein said Wednesday that excessive force may have been used by police officers who used a stun gun on a 13-year-old girl who was being uncooperative after they took her into custody for fighting with her mother.

(No, really?)

Comments

[odeyseus.livejournal.com]

This is why you have to be very carefull what powers you give to the police, sooner or later someone will abuse the power.

Stun guns are a usefull tool for the police but as with any weapon their use by law enforcement agents needs to be strictly regulated.

[triadruid.livejournal.com]

What would you prefer they have done? Clubbed her over the head with a nightstick?

There's a little thing called a Force Matrix in any reasonable PD. Stun guns aren't lethal force, and they don't generally carry the risk of permanent injury (like batons and pain-compliance techniques). In some cases, that means they can be used for active noncompliance.

*Can* doesn't mean *should*, but that's probably why the article is worded the way it is. The investigation is still ongoing, after all.

[odeyseus.livejournal.com]

Stun guns are potentially life threatening to even a full grown male, the risk of permanent injury or death is even higher in this case when it was used twice on a handcuffed, unarmed, 65lb teenage girl.

from what I read in the article she was handcuffed in the back of the police car and so not a threat to anyone but herself and the interior of the police car. I bet those 2 cops are very proud of having to resort to a stun gun to subdue a small girl, something ells me they are the laughing stock of their force for it, I would find it hilarious if their actions hadn't put a kids life at risk.