Tasers With Video And Audio?
Tasers With Video And Audio? Save Email Print
Lincoln, Neb.
Posted: 9:58 AM Aug 19, 2008
Last Updated: 9:58 AM Aug 19, 2008
Reporter: WOWT News
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

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A police officer Tasers an unruly suspect and the suspect later claims he didn't deserve the shock. It's a situation that could end up in a lawsuit. With that in mind, the Plattsmouth Police Department has added video and audio to the weapon.

Ignore police orders and getting hit with a Taser shouldn't come as a shock. The Plattsmouth Police Department recently had its first Taser incident since being equipped with five Tasers with cameras and microphones nearly two years ago.

“A lot of people are gonna see it before it hits the courtroom and it's going to show exactly what happened,” said Plattsmouth Police Officer Jon Hardy.

There's no way to edit the recording. In this incident, the suspect had pushed over a main street garbage container. The tape shows the officer immediately called for an ambulance as a precaution.

Police Chief Brian Paulsen said the video and audio helps protect taxpayers if a suspect claims police brutality.

“He's not going to come back and saying he wasn't doing anything wrong, this isn't a guy standing on the corner being Joe Q. Citizen, this is a guy who's acting defiant and already damaged city property.”

After being Tasered the suspect was arrested for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. If there's any argument that police went too far a judge or jury won't have to rely on eyewitnesses alone.

Douglas County does not have the cameras because the cost is $500 a piece. Sheriff Tim Dunning said it's too expensive to equip 110 Tasers, and he said it's all or none, because a defense attorney might question why some Taser incidents are caught on tape and some aren't.

The Omaha Police Department has 100 Tasers and doesn’t plan on equipping them with cameras in the immediate future.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: joey on Aug 21, 2008 at 07:53 AM
i think its an ok idea. but if a taser gets used on you, you probably did something wrong.

Posted by: nate Location: york on Aug 19, 2008 at 08:22 PM
A few years ago you would have just been shot. The taser is a good thing.

Posted by: connie Location: lincoln on Aug 19, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Use the Taser's. If you do something wrong and you get caught, and act defiant as most of the people that are caught do, use the taser. Let the POLICE do their job. They are only trying to protect the citizens of the city in which they are employeed. THAT'S THEIR JOB!!!!!

Posted by: TASER INST. on Aug 19, 2008 at 12:41 PM
If you disobey a lawful order and it warrants the use of a taser to subdue a suspect, then there should be no reason for any lawsuits. This way there is less chance of an injury to either the officer or suspect and less of a chance for the suspect to be charged with assault on an officer due to fighting with them.

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