<![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Gary_7vn: The nurse taking care of him said he had no new symptoms beyond what he was originally admitted for. He was in the hospital for a reason, genius.

hooked-on-tronics

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Delusional from shortness of breath??? Hogwash. The dirty little secret is that many elderly in hospital settings become delusional from the massive amount of drugs, often opiates, they are fed to keep them near-comatose, and thus less trouble to take care of.

geneb5

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Never underestimate a 82 year old prison guard, I say.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Comms: @celloids: You know, you guys are kind of assholes.

Cops aren't hired to be nice to you, or to take your shit when you're drunk. Cops are hired to deal with the worst, shittiest and most violent aspects of human society. So what kind of person do you want them to be? They have to be rude and violent. They have to be intimidating. This is their job. Their job is to be shitty people in order to keep us all safe and peaceful. So fucking DEAL with it, and don't bring your tired, shitty 14 year old "fucking pigs" opinions into it.

Canadian cops are by and large a good bunch. But if you give them shit they will give it right back with force.

Pope John Peeps II

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> I've lived in British Columbia for 5 year. Only one thing I can vouch for sure: Canadian Cops = 99.999999999999999999% shitholes. They smell real bad I would rather be next to a dead rat than to be next to them.

celloids

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Jad35: "Last year a man in an airport was killed by a police officer by use of a taser because he was panicking."

Just to clarify Jad... the Polish immigrant didn't die as a result of the Taser. He did when the RCMP officers kneeled on his back, compressing his chest cavity. Essentially, he was suffocated.

I think your point is valid though. IMHO it would be nice to see them explore less extreme alternatives before they wade in with Tasers. On the other hand, each situation is unique. There may have been a good reason for what they did.

AkiKazeta

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Fucking pigs

Comms

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Or they could have used the "Brazilian" method... notice how "safe" the police were! And they got their Buttle! Or was it "Tuttle"?

No matter, nothing to see here, move along please...


+ Watch video

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: see i respect everything you say and obviously not everyone who is a cop is crooked and low life scum... However I have had the police called to my house b.c there was a car that was infront of my house watching me, i've been pulled over that one time, i've had it all...well sorta. I've also been arrested when I was 14 because the police thought I had stole some merchandise and when they wouldn't listen that it was MY property, purchase and everything they left me in a stinking juvie cell for hours and hours before they called my parents, WHICH WAS WRONG. They ended up seeing that the store i was in didn't even carry what I had and they had found the recipt in my purse. Now I may have bad luck but we can't say that what they did was right or wrong b.c the article is skimpy on details. However in my experience I can say i've run into more power hungry cops then law abiding officers who always go by the books and have respect until proven guilty. I did file a complaint...oddly though there was no record of what happened last night in the computers or on the camera, funny isn't it?

Carmen turns 19 in 5 days!!!

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ParaXnoia: Agreed - cops shouldn't be judged unfavorably just because they're cops.

However, cops that act out of line, either intentionally or unintentionally should be reprimanded and / or punished for it, not defended.

If I hit you with a taser in a situation where you were not provoking me, I'd be hit with assault charges. If a cop did the same under identical circumstances, the chief of police would come out publicly, and stand by the decision claiming you were acting belligerently and the officer felt threatened.

There are a lot of cops out there that get away with way more than they should. No, not all cops are bad - most are good people doing the right thing, but the ones that go astray are allowed to do so.

I guess the morale of all of what I'm saying is "with great power comes great responsibility." Ben Parker FTW.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @What The Geek: I agree with you, I just don't like it when people assume that all cops are bad based on the action of a few. That's like saying all black people steal things and rob stores, all white people hate black guys, sit around drinking beer and watching Nascar and beat their wives, and all asians are good at math.

ParaXnoia

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ParaXnoia: See, the thing of it is, this sort of thing happens more often than is reported. I know quite a few people who were treated way unfairly by the police. Good people who did little to nothing wrong who were harassed, handled roughly, or even struck unnecessarily. Just because it doesn't end up on the news doesn't mean it didn't happen. You don't hear about it all the time because taking legal action, or even speaking out publicly against a police officer that did you wrong will (not could, WILL) get you harassed by other cops.

I'm not saying all cops are bad. Frankly I think the majority of people who join the police do so for the right reasons. However, some people lose their way. When they do, they make poor decisions. Instead of keeping them honest, we have a system that allows for police who step out of line to be protected, and frankly, that scares me.

Should the police be given the tools and the rights to do their job? Absolutely. They should also be held doubly responsible for using those tools and freedoms in a professional and fair manner, and that just isn't the case in the real world.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> All it takes is that one cop to be too trusting to wind up with a bullet in his head, or anyone else's. And then whose fault is it? The cop's. He should have shot the person, not tried to talk them down. But then if they shoot the person, they're bad guys. If the cops gets stabbed, or an orderly gets stabbed, it's the cop's fault, but if they taze the guy, it's still their fault. Can they ever win?

ParaXnoia

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Gary_7vn: See, the thing is, except for the very few instances, everything that happened was deserved. Granted, the Kathryn Johnston story was a fuckup, but even then, if she hadn't come out shooting, she'd be fine. This isn't the kind of thing that happens every day.

As long as you're not waving around weapons, talking about how people next to you might be dead and failing to comply with police, you won't get hurt. Police protect themselves. That's all there is to it. Sometimes they fuck up, who doesn't? But I can guarantee you that more officers are killed each year than people wrongfully killed by them.

ParaXnoia

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> LOL! so true...

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Thanks for sharing that Ambibob. I think I have made my case as best I can, all I can say is that there are some real hard assed, stone cold people here. Not a a lot of sympathy or empathy or even the recognition that it could happen to them some day. After all 1% of the American population is now in prison. Highest in the world. Hope you all feel 'safe'.

I guess your dope smoking cousins were lucky it was just your crazy grandpa with a knife and not the narcs from Atlanta...

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Yeah, I agree with you. Most of the reactions in response to this article are pretty reactionary. I think it's what an article like this has done that kind of got me going. I really felt like it was becoming a witch hunt and just wanted to high-light some of my own positive personal experiences since people like Carmen were sharing theirs.

Actually, we were in a similar situation with him a few years ago that I honestly didn't really want to talk about. I've already talked too much about my families business, and I'm sure that if they knew I was talking about all of this stuff and then read this, then they'd probably be pissed, including my cousin...

Like I said he's extremely scrappy. Actually, when i said he was scrappy I also meant he was kind of an ass, especially when my mom was growing up, or so I've been told. I kind of believe it (I've seen him flip out), but at the same time don't want to believe some of the stories I've heard. A few years ago (I think it was while I was still in the military I got out like five years ago, so he was still in his eighties at the time) he pulled his knife on one of my cousins and her boyfriend. At the time he lived with my Aunt and my Uncle and there 4 kids (my cousins, one of which was the one who was held up). He was extremely belligerent, and was threatening to stab them with it. I'm not too terribly sure of the particulars surrounding the incident (we don't talk about it much, but I'm pretty sure that he claimed that they were smoking pot in the house, which is more than likely true), but I do know that the police were called in and he was institutionalized for a while because of it. Immediately afterwards he was diagnosed with Dementia and a severe Iron deficiency that we believe made him react the way he did. Afterwards, upon release form the mental hospital my Uncle and my Aunt kicked him out of the house! He wanted to move in with my mom, but my mom wouldn't have him because my Grandmother lived with her (they had divorced years ago) and she didn't want to subject my poor grandmother to him again, or have to live with him herself... None of my other uncles wanted to deal with him, so my Mom took the lead and helped get him set up with some senior housing in the town she lives in. He's cool now and even walks two miles each way to church every other day without the use of a cane or anything!

Now, would I have wanted to have him tazed, or minded if it had happened? I honestly don't know how they restrained him when they did, though I'm sure it wasn't with the use a tazer. If they had to at the time, then I'd say go for it. The whole family has a strained relationship with him at best, so maybe I'm the wrong person to ask. Does that make me fucked up? I dunno, but knowing his history and if it meant him not hurting himself or anyone else, then definitely yes! Ask my Uncle and Aunt who he lived with and they'd probably definitely would have said "YES!" But that's another story all together...

on a side note, to this day my Cousin who he had the incident with refuses to see him.

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> If she was being uncooperative, unruly, and a bitch in general, then yeah, she deserved to get cuffed and taken away. Looks like the dress code was clearly published and she decided it didn't apply to her. No sympathy.

ParaXnoia

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Texas Teen Handcuffed For Wearing Skimpy Dress to High School Prom
[video.yahoo.com]

Handcuffed? For wearing a skimpy dress? Watch the video not much chance of a concealed weapon here! LOL

Who is the "victim" here?

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Gary, I live in Atlanta, and that story was all over the news. From the initial reports, I supported the cops all the way. When it turned out everything was lies and it was all part of a botched operation they tried to cover up, I feel differently. However, I do feel that if they were raiding her house, properly announced they were police, and she opened fire, they have every right to do what they feel is necessary. So what if she's 80-something? She can still kill a cop with a revolver. However, that's a moot point - as I said, that wasn't exactly the scenario that happened, as it turns out.

I do support the police in this specific case, as well, however. The 82-year-old man had a knife. He was delusional. I don't care how old he is, he could still inflict substantial damage on the police. He was delusional, giving more reason for the police to be wary of his logic and ability to think out what he was doing. My fiancee's father is 84, and is doing pretty damn well. He is a funny old man that could cause substantial harm with a weapon, if you piss him off enough. Just because someone is that old nowadays doesn't automatically make them this crippled old person that can't live without other's help, as you are implying. What if, during their attempt to take the knife from the man, they got stabbed in between the ribs (bullet-resistant vests normally worn by police don't protect against blunt force or stab trauma), or slashed a wrist, stabbed the throat, brachial artery, etc? I say the correct decision was made to immobilize him, and then remove the threat of the knife. And just because he was tazered three times does not mean he was actually shot three times. He was probably just shocked three times as a result of non-compliance (he was delusional).

There are corrupt cops, yes. 99% of them are not. They aren't out there picking fights, they're not just looking for the next victim to exploit. They are protecting whatever city/county/province/state/country you live in. When you're getting robbed on the street, I bet your pepper spray isn't going to come in very handy.

And, I don't even like for my fiancee to carry around pepperspray, much less a taser or anything like that. Don't introduce anything like that to a fight unless you are trained in using it. How easy would it be for someone to beat the crap out of you, take it and immobilize you with it? The risk is tenfold for a taser or other such object.

ParaXnoia

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Here in Vancouver Cops Tazer on sight its kind of like their handshake.

Seriously they tazer first and ask questions later ....welcome to our new police state.

r2d4

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Well, that is a good story, but I don't see your point. The police are usually nice to people they see as victims. Goes without saying.

Crime is a problem, no doubt. It can be extremely traumatizing for the victims, but the question here today is: was the tasering of the old man justified? Some people think so, and other than yourself I would say that most of them are pretty reactionary.

I would still like to know how you would feel if the police tasered your granddad who you said is, "is 87 btw, and the dude is scrappy. He too carries a knife..." Sounds like but for the "grace of god" it could have been him.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> It was indeed a little non sequitur, and a little open. I just wanted to get a little information from you with out necessarily coercing it from you, or eliciting a re-action. You pretty much gave me the answer I wanted. Thank you for doing so in a civil manner. I'm glad you see the need in some sort of law enforcement. I was concerned you thought they were in fact "evil" and "unnecessary" by your previous zealous posts. I am admittedly biased in this situation due to my background, but I think it's fairly obvious. Whatever the case, I think it's a fair assessment by you.

I have been the victim of a crime. About 4 years ago shortly after getting out of the military I was working as a teller at a bank that was held up. I was held up at gun poin, and at the time still felt pretty invincible (due to a combination of just having gotten out the military and dumb youth). Nothing happened to me, and it pretty much had no psychological affect on me, however some of the other female tellers I worked with were extremely shaken up. The police were on the scene and chased the robbers into a residential area where they were arrested shortly there after.

More recently (like 2 months ago) my cousin (she's 4' 11" tall...) was held up at gunpoint at the retail store she manages. There were two perps involved, one of which took her into the back room of her store and made her open the vault at gun point. The one that took her into the back room had her lay face down and lifted her skirt with the barrel of his gun while she was face down. After both the perps left the police were on the scene in the matter of minutes. About a month later they were both arrested, and just last week she was subpoenaed to appear in court where she had to testify against them. It has been a horrible ordeal for her and something I would hate for any of your cousins, sisters, or mothers to go through.

Throughout both of those ordeals, the police officers were fantastic. Both my cousin and my co-workers were extremely happy to see the police officers after the event, and had nothing but high praise for them afterwards.

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> I'm surprised the old guy didn't have a heart attack.

two cans tied together and thrown down the street to wake up the surrounding neighbors with a loud annoying noise

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Oroka: I disagree.

DrifterTypeR

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> My Grandmother was a Nurse for 25 years, and I know crazy people have a way of putting YOU in the hospital. The old man was dangerous, the Mounty's did their job.

MagnoliaBoy

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @What The Geek: I agree.

DrifterTypeR

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: It doesn't appear that these BC cops are highly trained at all; they clearly handled the situation poorly by overreacting- tasers are not meant to be a "easy-button" for subduing suspects. They are meant to be an alternative to deadly force, such as a gun. There were many other ways to handle the bed-ridden old man without injuring him or the cops themselves. It looks like the cops choose the lazy way out.

Look, I agree that cops face a lot of dangers in the course of serving and protecting us. And it is natural to want to avoid chance of injury on the job. But that doesn't mean they can minimize risks to themselves at the cost of injury, undue injury, to others (including suspects).

Risk and injury is part of the job. Cops like your Dad knew that when they signed up for it. They have a duty to the public and they are expect to put their lives on the line for it. That's what makes their profession noble - instead of just another blue-collar job for jocks who couldn't get into college.

These cops in question stood back from danger and abused their authority by using undue force. That's a breach of duty. That's cowardliness. Cops like your dad would be ashamed.

DrifterTypeR

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Yes, I have, I was attacked by a redneck with club, who objected to me riding my bicycle on the street. I pepper sprayed him. End of problem. I am not against "violence" per se, just gratuitous violence, especially on the part of the police who have superiour weapons and training and who have sworn duty to protect. Protect, not tase.

To me the taser question comes to down to saving someones life. Full stop. Unless the life of someone is in danger, there is no need to use a weapon that was sold to us an alternative to deadly force. This is not longer the case, as it is often used to coerce compliance, to punish, and as a matter of convenience. Personally I think cops should risk their lives, it's their job.

I thought I would answer your question even though it is non sequitar. Is there some connection that I am missing? I am not arguing that police are unnecessary, or evil, simply that they have the power of life, death and freedom over citizens, and that this great power has to be monitored and controlled. Most importantly they must act within the law and ordinary morality. There is such a thing as excessive force and police do overstep their authority. And yes, some of them are violent dangerous people who hide behind their badges. Please take careful note of your bias -- your father is a police officer and you are proud of him and grew up surrounded by friendly helpful cops. This is not everyone's experience (See Carmen89) and many many thousands like her.

Again as I have said in most of my posts, what if it was your old, sick and disorientated granddad who got zapped? What side of the argument would you be on then?

Crime is dropping in both the US and has been for 30 years. This is mostly due to changing demographics (the population is getting older) and has nothing to do with the police. More police does not equal less crime, this is a myth.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> The article was a little short on details. If he was in the hospital bed barely moving with a butter knife, then the cops are DEFINITELY in the wrong.

HOWEVER... If he was in the hospital bed and full of "piss and vinegar", delusional, and holding a knife at the ready, welllll??

No one on this board was there, nor were sufficient details given in the news story. The old gentleman may be strapped with med-gear but I've seen the sick and elderly give HELL.

For instance... If he was fired up and holding an honest to goodness knife capable of causing injury; are the cops supposed to stand there waiting for him to harm himself if he slips up with the knife? Nope.

Are they supposed to try and grab the man and disarm him if he's fired up and possibly get shanked by a lucky jab? Nope, would you want to be the cop that gets stabbed?

Are they supposed to let him sit there fired up with a knife for an unknown amount of time until he falls asleep, thus waisting their time that could be spent providing police cover? No, they aren't baby sitters.

If the old guy was totally unruly with a knife AND given sufficient warning... he's fair game. Like I said, I've seen elderly people, who are given to moments of frailty, get just as riled up as a younger person.

None of us were there and a LOT of details missing. Just like the video of the girl at BestBuy getting tased, we have no idea what she was saying to the officer. She could have just as easily had her arms extended shouting "What, bitch! What are you gonna do!? What!?"

We need more info before we start crucifying the cops. And, I'm not even a die hard fan of cops! (I have friends who are cops and they tell me stories about co-workers that leave me less than impressed. However, I do know some guys who are cops and are truly amazing people tho'... so it's a case by case thing.)

I'm out I gotta go see DustyMom!

DustyButt

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Not to step in the middle of your discussion, but I have been the victim of a violent crime, and I still stand behind Gary 7vn's point.

The short version of my violent crime story is that I caught a beat down that was intended for someone else. Having walked away from the experience bruised and bleeding, I would still prefer that, had the police caught the culprits, that they should have done so without ruffing them up. Why? It's not the police's job to punish criminals - just apprehend them. Tasing an 82 yr old bed ridden man or, even worse, shooting and killing a 92 year old woman who was afraid she was being robbed is a vulgar display of power. The police are there to keep the peace, not add to the violence. Unfortunately, some people put on the uniform strictly for the power trip. Equally unfortunate are the ones who put on the uniform and spend every day terrified that they're going to run into the criminal who shoots or stabs them dead. Whether it's out of fear, or out of over zealousness many officers of the peace act excessively violent. Honest citizens shouldn't have to fear the police.... unfortunately, due to their actions in situations like those described in this post, many of us do, in fact, fear them.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ Gary 7vn. just a simple question. Have you ever been the victim of a crime violent, or otherwise? I'm just curious is all.

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> To the authoritarian personalities, (read sheeple) who applaud any police killing, shooting, beating, and sexually motivated searche, no matter how unjustified. This is what it leads to:

Kathryn Johnston: A Year Later
92-year-old woman's death has done little to curb the use of paramilitary police tactics around the country.
It was one year ago this week that narcotics officers in Atlanta, Georgia broke into the home of 92-year-old Kathryn Johnston.
They had earlier arrested a man with a long rap sheet on drug charges. That man told the police officers that they'd find a large stash of cocaine in Johnston's home. When police forced their way into Johnston's home, she met them holding a rusty old revolver, fearing she was about to be robbed. The police opened fire, and killed her.

[www.reason.com]

There are about 40,000 paramilitary raids (mostly for drugs) on American citizens every year, up from 2000 in 1980. America is becoming a police state. This is only possible when people not only don't resist, but actively applaud this kind of shit.

Who you gonna call when they come for you?

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Anexio: "EMI's lack of understanding of human beings and (gasp!), the inkernets is astounding.
Their arrogance gives me strength to pirate their crap just to piss them off."

Since you have admitted publicly to "theft" I assume that you, being a good German, will go quietly when they come for you.

"Drop the fucking mouse! Or suffer the consequences".

You seem to think that anyone who steps out of line should be pounded down rather than dealt with humanely. Do you treat your girlfriend (if you have one) that way? How's that working for you? You probably kick dogs.

And since you are so "tough" am I correct in assuming that you are posting from your foxhole in Iraq? We have to stop the evil doers, crush them, burn them, that'll teach them.

This was no "criminal", this was an old sick, confused man, what part of that don't you get?

"Suffer the consiquences (sic)". What a man. What a hero.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ what the geek, thanks, that's a lot to wrap my mind around. Makes a lot of sense though, i guess, especially the "anyone with a computer and a computer connection can" blog" thing.. I still respectfully disagree with this one time, but it definitely sheds a lot of light on the whole "blogging" thing. Some thing I'll definitely consider moving forward. Thanks.

@ Carmen. What's B.S? I thought I made it pretty plain that I was empathetic to your story?... I too have been harassed by the "law", but obviously not to the extent of abuse that you have been, which I'm really sorry about. If you don't believe that, then I don't know what to tell you. Maybe you should think about taking your grievance to the D.A. in your area. Have you made a complaint? Did you get their names and badge numbers? There is a system in place for these types of situations (like yours) to catch people who abuse the power given to them, like the police officers who you say did this to you, and you should use it if you haven't already...

You obviously have a very different opinion of law enforcement that's colored by your experience that I obviously don't share (obviously with me being a guy that's never been molested by a cop, and my dad being a retired cop and all...). Sorry about that too btw. Though, I don't think it's fair to state in a blanket opinion like you did that all(?) "cops are so crooked these days that who the hell is to believe much of anything they say?" Again, just my opinion, and we are obviously of a different one.

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> You do not know me. I am an old guy with a knife. Come and take it away from me. Well come on don't just stand there. Come and take it away with your bare hands. Well guess what. Evan though I am old and overweight. You will get hurt. I am a retired police officer with over 12 years of intensive martial arts background. You approach me bare handed and you will be seriously hurt. The responding officers must consider this potential with every encounter. They acted correctly. They incapacitated the suspect then safely took the knife away. Nobody got hurt. That is what tazers are for.

RetiredPoliceOfficer

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Anexio: IF HE IS DELUSIONAL HE REALLY ISN'T THINKIN STRAIGHT IS HE!?
The simple fact is, cops are so crooked these days that who the hell is to believe much of anything they say?

Carmen turns 19 in 5 days!!!

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> It's good to see the Canadians getting into the spirit of things. Way to go canucks!

Seriously, I see no reason why an 82 year old should get a pass when it comes to getting tazered.

Put the F U C K I N G knife down or suffer the consiquences.

Anexio

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: The "rules" of blogging...... now that's a bit of a complicated issue, but let me see if I can shed some light on it for you.

The simple answer? There are no rules to blogging. Why? Because anyone with a computer and an internet connection can do it.... and not everyone cares about journalistic integrity.

The long answer? Bigger blogs that aim to deliver news in some particular category (such as gizmodo, the consumerist, joystiq, or engadget) try to maintain a certain level of journalistic integrity. While it is not always necessary the source article is often directly quoted in the blog post, and a link to the source article is always presented at the bottom of the post so that the reader has the opportunity to go read more of the story. The type and amount of slant found in the posts on any given blog are directly up to the writers and editors of that blog, same as any other form of media.

I used to run a moderately successful video game blog. I'll be launching a new one within the next two weeks, as well as another blog on a completely different topic. I'll also be involved in a third about customer service stories. I'm not saying all of this to plug my work, but to make the point that I speak from experience. I've learned a few things over the years about what makes a blog successful, and the short answer is it's the content people can't get anywhere else that a blog will live or die on. I'm certain if you were to google "82 year old man knife taser" you'd find this story on a lot of different sites told a lot of different ways. You can get the news anywhere, you can only get gizmodo's take on the news here.

This is the same reason that my new video game blog is going to be mostly editorials and "personal experience" pieces - I'm bring on a few good writers with an interesting way of putting things because it's opinion and personal insight that bring a reader back, and get them thinking about the point you are making. Yes, if you are writing for a blog you should include all pertinent facts about a story in the blog post, but you should never do it without allowing your personality to seep into the post.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Lizard_King: wow...this is what makes me sick! Just because they "protect our ass" doesn't mean that they are right and it doesn't give them the right to harass people. There is a small significant group of police officers who are what a police officer is supposed to be, but for the most part it's all corrupt b.s . They'd rather save a corrupt police officer then to fully protect a tax paying citizen who is keeping their ass in that job in the first place.

@Ambigous Blob: That I believe is b.s . I knew the cop was messed up the entire time. He first told me I wasn't giving him my correct and he would arrest me (which my license clearly stated my FULL REAL NAME ALONG WITH ID TO BACK IT UP)
He then told me I had no seatbelt on even though he was driving on the opposite side of the street than me doing about 50-55 while I was going 40, oh and did i mention this was at night where it was DARK?
So what I got from the entire part to me was I would have been tasered or what not for being rude or out of hand with them even though they sexually harassed me on purpose and degraded me because their wives won't give em a simple bj? Yeah COPS ROCK!

Carmen turns 19 in 5 days!!!

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> 5 years ago I took the stand as a witness in a beating. A man was strapped down in a gurney because he was belligerent. He was insulting to the staff and a police officer came in to act as security. After a few minutes listening to the man, he felt it necessary to punch the man, who had both of his arms restrained, in the face 12 times. The policeman walked, due to a corrupt legal system in the boondocks of Pennsylvania. I, as a witness, got more of a punishment than the police officer.

Lizard_King

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Wow!
Good thing I got out of my home town before taser technology arrived and was entertained by GIZMODO.

donnymac

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @carmen89: The same could be said for other countries (Y)

Arsenal6

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ what the geek. You have a good point. I definitely considered it before typing. I just got back from dinner and drinks with some friends and thought about it a lot more while out with them. I understand that there will inevitably be opinions in all articles, and I still don't think that it was all presented in the best possible way... I kind of regret using the "L" word too. I agonized over typing it before doing it and while doing it. In fact, it lingered in the back of my head the whole time from the first time I read the article. Like my mom says "anytime you regret something you've done, probably shouldn't have done it". Oh, well... However, are there any "rules" for bloggers? I'm kind of old school in this regard, and maybe my thoughts on this aren't up to a "new journalistic standard"?... Is it the reader's job now to click on links to a sourced article? Is everything found on blogs now just to be considered "opinion"? Does it still count if it's presented as news? I dunno tbh. Can someone shed some light? I don't live in Canada and am not aware of your issues involving tazing, sorry. Thanks!

Now, I think if the guy had died we probably wouldn't be having this conversation. I also spoke to my dad tonight and he laughed and gave me the "are you serious look?" He definitely wouldn't have done it. He probably would have come up with the blanket idea someone else posted earlier. He's definitely smarter than me and a bigger man than I am, though tbh if he'd come home from work stabbed by an 82 year old man while still patrolling then we'd probably joke on him for the rest of his life! Conversely if he'd also come home stabbed and infected with something like HIV, then we'd be totally pissed at him.

@ Gary 7vn. I don't think I ever said I was an "expert", however given my vantage point I like to think that I have a little insight into the subject, that's all. I'm not my dad, and I'm definitely not any where near half the man he is. I still stand by my statement that I'd had probably have tazed him too, though had he died (and knowing my luck he probably would have, if I'd done it) I'd probably feel like dying myself afterwards.

In regards to my first post when I referenced VD's, I'm of the mind that EVERYONE has a disease (VD or otherwise). I'm not a germ a-phobe or anything, but if I'm gonna swap blood with anyone for any reason, then it better be for a DAMN GOOD REASON! I think it comes from being in the US Army and being mandatorily tested every couple years for HIV (for further reference see Team America, you know the musical number in the RENT inspired Musical) it made me super paranoid about it.

In fact, when I was in the US Army for 4 yrs one of the experiences that I walked out remembering the most, that I'll never forget, was having to de-mask in a gas chamber full of riot gas... That was probably one of the worst experiences I've ever had to experience. I would never want to go through that again, EVER. Though I've never been tazed, I'm pretty sure I'd take it over the tear (or pepper gas) if the effects wore off immediately.

@ Carmen. My dad is white and I'm Hispanic. I've been there too. I owned a '67 VW beetle that was a total beater in high school that I would get pulled over in all of the time, because I was probably Hispanic (and really look it). I think the record in one day was 3 times (what was nutbastards record again?). I never experienced anything like you, but definitely have been there, and with the exception of those few experiences have had no troubles with the law. For the most part I like to think that they're good people just trying to do their jobs too. These police officers were just doing their jobs and thankfully no one was hurt (permanently) in this instance. I just think we all got caught up in a sensationalized article is all.

@ Speedygonzalas, um no?... I deny your request! LOL f'n stupid!

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Couldn't they, I don't know, overpower him? He is after all both old and sick.

Kareem King

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Okay, here's a way they could have difused the situation, without using the taser, and without risking their own bodily injury:

Grab something long, like a chair or an IV stand, or a table, or... and knock the knife out of his hand... he's bedridden, he wasn't charging these officers.

The risks associated with using the taser were much greater than the risks of disarming him without it. The guy's 80 years old, there's a good chance a high voltage shock to his system could kill him. Then there's the fact that he was in the Hospital for pneumonia, which means he was probably on Oxygen, you know what happens when you create a spark in an oxygen rich environment... Big Boom. Even if they ended up breaking his arm it would have been better, not many people have died from minor fractures in the lower arm... a growing number have died from tasers.

But all of this is irrelevant because there are two questions that have not been answered:
1. How the f*ck did he hold onto a knife when getting admitted to a Hospital?

2. Why were the RCMP there in the first place? If this guy was a suspect in a stabbing attack then I could see the justification of using a taser when he pulled a knife.

something_unique_and_descriptive

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @carmen89: Thanks. Sorry for your trouble, but at least now you know there's the Blue Knights on TV, and then there's real life which is closer to Training Day than most people think.

If you'd 'resisted' getting 'searched/groped' it would have been taser town for you too. Cops are necessary and most of them are not bad people, but we give them too much power and too little supervision.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]>

[www.5089.co.jp]

Or they could have just called this girl, this 98lb Japanese girl.

It's called a "sasumata" and is a traditional Japanese martial weapon.

One cop pins the torso, the second cop pins the arm, the third, oh so bravely; removes it from the hand of the old man, (being careful not disturb his oxegen tube).

Of course they can do this from a SAFE distance. have to keep SAFE.

But then the sasumata doesn't make all those cool star wars sounds... not very SWAT at all.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @jrlittlejr: Quit yer bitchin'. No one cares about that story anymore, and the people that did, if I recall correctly, were jumping ship to Engadget cuz they couldn't handle the nuclear shenanigans.

Anyway, from this inexperienced individual with zero background in law enforcement, I can confidently say that these cops are morons. Am I or anyone else supposed to believe that a bed-ridden octogenarian presents any kind of significant threat? Unless he has long ass knives and can do V for Vendetta-style blade tossing, tasing is totally unnecessary.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ab12: "To Protect and Serve" not "Run and Hide".

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Oraka: "Tasers are non-lethal, but there will be the occasional incident that someone will die." yawn...

If a few old men have to die for to 'feel' safe, then that price is worth it. For Oraka.


+ Watch video

I protect my own ass.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> I think the taser is justified. Could the three cops have wrestled the knife away from the bedridden senior? Almost definitely. The chance of injury to them would have been minimal; however, that doesn't mean its negligible.
The fact is that there was still a chance that a police officer would have sustained substantial injury, be it unlikely or not. Why should a police officer have to risk that to avert a situation where someone is threatening them with a weapon when there is an alternative that does not put them at any risk and the only risk is to the person with the weapon.
Sure, this man may have been delusional and not fully aware of his actions, but that doesn't mean his safety should be preserved over that of the officers.

ab12

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Big issue I see is that he was on oxygen at the time - not exactly smart to use a taser with someone on oxygen.
Oxygen + source of ignition = boom

unpolloloco

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> First of all, I am Canadian, living in Ontario.

I fully support police using tasers. These guys are out there risking thier lives to protect us. If a non-lethal taser will allow them to not risk thier safety subduing a delusional old man with a knife, or some psycotic guy throwing furniture at an airport, I am all for it.

What if that old man cut a cop while trying to bring him under control, or what if the old man got a few bones broken in the scuffle? This looks bad for the cops no matter what way it went down. 80 year old man VS evil cops = sensational news.

Tasers are non-lethal, but there will be the occasional incident that someone will die. People have died in scuffles with cops, even just sitting in a jail cell. Heck, your choice, get zapped, or get shot? I think I would have a better chance of NOT dying from a taser than a bullet.

If you are being violent and wont stop when a cop tells you, EXPECT to get pepper spray or zapped. Dont fuck with the people who protect your ass.

Oroka

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> I think we seriously have a problem with the taser up here. I think there have been several deaths. I recall one that happened here in Toronto.

kevinyung89

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Gary_7vn: thumbs upskie!!!

Carmen turns 19 in 5 days!!!

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @hooked-on-tronics: He is not "fine" he was sick in bed on oxegen and got tasered. He's been traumatized, not that a sociopath would give a rat's ass. One more time -- what if it was YOUR dad, if you have one.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> The old guy was lucky for...1) this wasnt England 2) He wasnt late for work 3) he wasnt Brazillian..... the cops here shoot Brazillians for being late for work

fastmike

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> That' WRONG!! How the hell can you justify that, the man is 82 and in bed,what were these cops lemmings, standing behind each other, ...grab a sheet or pillow something to put between you and the old dude and overpower him.

This is what happens when you put deadly weapons in the hands of power hungry rejects.

wetworker

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @jcrockerman: Bla bla bla...

Tasers and guns aren't for human beings.

NicleT

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: I read your long comment and I have to ask, you don't think police officers are capable of taking things to far? I see exactly where you come from there are crazies out there who would most likely do this but you of many people should know that cops go far sometimes. I was pulled over a few months ago and I had a male police officer call for backup 1 minute into the pull over when i was calm, quiet and cooperating, he asked for another male backup and the two proceeded to "search" all over my body. I always thought they were to call a female officer if they were going to do that, they also told me to step away in front of their car (cameras) before they did it.
When cops do this kind of stuff and it's not the first time you've heard of cops doing stuff like this and you see them everyday running red lights with their sirens on and turn them off 1 second after they get outta the intersection, or when they're doing 50-60 anywhere they damn well please it sorta says something about where the hell their minds are.

Carmen turns 19 in 5 days!!!

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]>

+ Watch video

Whoops, here it is.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Here's a woman who got tasered for "disrupting store business" at Best Buy. She was suspected of using a stolen credit card.

Of course the officer was justified as we all know how bad you can mess someone up with a credit card.

Oh, btw, it wasn't stolen.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Barry99705: Bear spray is much stronger than what the police use. It also atomizes whereas police pepper spray comes out in a stream. It is localized. And pepper spray would have been too an extreme response in this case as well. Again, how would you feel if this was your Father? He was SICK, he was disoriented, he was not thinking clearly. Why couldn't they have just sat back and waited till he got sleepy. Sure a hammer will smash anything, but sometimes we have to show restraint.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @imagine-engine: "This resolves the situation quickly with out serious injury to the attacker, the police, hospital staff and other patients in the area."

Unless they die.

And where does it say they "attacked" him?

And since you are such a heartless and cruel lethal weapon I assume that you would be good with the cops shooting you any time you had a beef. Not that you ever would get old or short of oxegen or anything.

And didn't your sensei teach you that you do anything to avoid a fight? Mine did.

Let's attack Iran while we are it, they probably have "lethal" pocket knives.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @imagine-engine: When it's three cops against one bed ridden 82 yr old man, I think they ran a much higher risk of stopping his heart with the tazer than the risk presented by a disoriented old man ran of hurting anyone with the knife.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> I'm a Canadian who has trained in martial arts (main style is American Kenpo) since I was a kid. A knife in a person's hand can be just as or even more deadly than someone wielding a gun. The police used the right course of action by stunning the man with a Taser. This resolves the situation quickly with out serious injury to the attacker, the police, hospital staff and other patients in the area.

imagine-engine

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> They can get in close and hope the knife doesn't go into a neck or thigh or an eye or they can taze him from over 8 feet away.

I say taze him.

Crucio

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Gary_7vn: Uhh, pepper spray in a hospital can kill people. We had a canister of bear repellent go off in a school locker. Same exact stuff as the pepper spray on your average key chain, just more of it. 11 people had to go to the hospital for respiratory problems. Spraying that shit in a hospital isn't an option.

Barry99705

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Time to shut up Blow Hard. 'Sthat cool, nuff opinion for ya', dude?

SpeedyGonzalas

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Seriously? Look, yea, there was an obvious slant to the post, however, all the facts I gave when making my point were in place in this post. Furthermore, I defy you to present me with a story on the news, or in a paper that doesn't slant in one direction or the other. Yes, responsible journalism should include all the facts - that doesn't mean it has to be devoid of all opinion. I've done some writing in my time, and frankly, any piece I wrote on this story would have much the same tone to it. Yea, I'd present all the facts - duh. I'd also allow my personal take on the situation to shine through in my writing. Writers (especially bloggers) are people too. People with feelings and opinions. It's those thoughts, and feelings that allow a writer to shine, and get the attention of the reader, and maybe get them to think differently than they might otherwise be inclined.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Oh, I'm sure he probably wouldn't have done it. He probably would have bear slapped the guy or something. Now would have I? Probably, but does that make me a bad guy?.... I'm not a cop, so it's hard to say.

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> This was completely unnecessary, come on people, (esp. ambiguous Bob), what if they had tased your Dad under identical circumstances? AB I am sure that your father is a good guy, but that does not make you an expert either. Ask him what HE would have done and let us know.

I used to work at maximum security penitentiaries here in Canada, and the guards would subdue unruly inmates all the time - and can you believe it!!! Without a taser. They would just wade in, it just takes some guts and some training.

I heard and interview with the old man, he was sick and not getting enough oxegen, he was out of it.

They could have just stepped back and talked to this guy. Or they could have taken the other patient out and just closed the door. Jesus they have bullet proof vests and you can be sure that these were big guys. And that line about "contaminating the whole hospital" with pepper spray is ridiculous nonsense, it's impossible. It's fucking pepper spray, not WMD. They had no need to pepper spray him either.

This was cowardly, this was wrong, and based on the bad press they are getting it was stupid, and only tarnished a force that used to have a lot of respect before they started terminating Polish immigrants at the airport.

Where's your heart guys? This guy was law abiding citizen all his life. This was not a crack head in an alley.

Gary_7vn

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ What The Geek.
True Dat and fair enough.
However, when you only get a one sided emotional account of event that has been reported on more reputable sources with all of the facts surrounding the incident presented in a fair, balanced, and objectionable manor; then you have to question is your news source. I know this is just a gadget blog, however when did the standards become so low in journalism that you could report in this manor and totally twist a story so far and one sided that the facts of the full case become negligible at best, by the author? I'm sorry Addy, I was trying to avoid doing this in a public forum like this, but I think that it was this that really upset me initially, and prompted me to react the way I did (sorry). Ultimately I was trying to avoid addressing this, however the more and more I think about it and the more I respond the madder I get. I mean I know this isn't as sinister or grand as photo-shopping an OJ Simpson photo for a Time cover or anything like that, however if you're going to write articles then do so responsibly and factually. That's mainly why I think these types of articles should stay off of Gizmodo! It's a gadget site, and not a news site! There needs to be some sort of division between these types of articles, or else all it is that you're publishing is tantamount to libel, and nobody wants that, least of all Gizmodo. I think BLam and his crew need to get together and refocus, or at the very least instate some sort of accountability for it's contributers. This is not OK, acceptable, and definitely not something you ignore. For the life of me I don't know how more of you, like myself and hooked-on-tronics, aren't more upset by this? More importantly, when did Gizmodo become a rag like the Enquire?...

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Tasers - another prime example of the pnssification of the world.

Mounties used to actually subdue people with their barehands. Now they taze indiscriminately - cause pain and sometimes death. In one case, in Vancouver airport - it was taze first ask questions later - which didn't work out so well when the guy they tazed died.

My tax dollars at work..

colintoal

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ Ambigous Blob

Look, none of us were there. However, I feel fairly confident that there is no good reason to taser an 82 year old man while he is lying on his back in a hospital bed. Before typing this I actually consulted two police officer friends - both agreed with me on the fact that three officers should be able to nonviolently remove a knife from a delusional 82 year old bed ridden man without anyone getting hurt. The officers over reacted, and put that mans life at risk by doing so. Someone in their 20's can take a taser shot like a champ. Someone in their 80's? That could be fatal.

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, but let's base those opinions in fact. The facts here are that three trained police officers all chose to taser an 82 year old man in his hospital bed. He wasn't lunging at them with the knife, or threatening anyone - from what it sounds like, he was disoriented.... and probably not in peak physical condition if he was in a hospital bed. My opinion based on those facts? The mounties need to calm down a little bit, and learn to use nonviolent methods when applicable.

What The Geek

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> In case anyone is interested, here's the story from someone other than a delerious old man: [www.bclocalnews.com]

hooked-on-tronics

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ Hooked-on-tronics
That's the impression that I got. It felt like a bit of the critical information about the story was left out, however I wasn't able to confirm it with out reading the reference. TBH I didn't bother hitting the link to the original source, Though i wish I had before I posted. :/ I hate going off half cocked, though thankfully I didn't this one time...

@ photophile, thanks, I think... I don't know if i should feel offended or flattered. Don't really care either way.

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @photophile: hey, at least our cops use tasers NOT guns to shoot people.

Rodime

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @carmen89: they're just learning from you americans.

Rodime

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> BTW, the "idiot" reference is for the paragraph that starts: "Addy, who are you to critique the actions of police officers..."

The rest of your posts are all right.

photophile

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> The cops here in Canada are pretty taser-happy, as Jad35 pointed out. They are supposed to be used in place of a gun when possible, and this situation hardly warrants the use of a firearm.

Why not just back out of the room a bit, and try to talk the old guy down? Or just punch him in the face?

Ambigous Blob is an idiot.

photophile

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @hooked-on-tronics: I read the article, and MUCH was omitted. This is just a plea for sympathy by an old man.

hooked-on-tronics

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ Jad, cool, dude! Your opinion is one among many, that doesn't necessarily make yours any more valid than mine.

Intelligent response by the way, though I don't think I'll resort to name calling. Instead, I'll give you some facts. My father, by the way, was a great cop and just recently retired with over 30 years of service to the community and police station as a Watch Commander. More recently he attained his Master's Degree in Social Work at the age of 55 (with my mom at the same time, who is currently also working as a full time social worker in her county by handling both adoptions and foster care), and is still serving the community by helping the homeless in our community as a advocate with a local police department, where he does extensive one on one work with the homeless. At times he's even given them rides in his car (their county doesn't have it in their budget to afford county cars for social workers, and something I would never do!) for appointments (that they may not have been able to attend due to a lack of transportation!) and even given them money to help fill prescriptions! All said and done, I think that I can objectionably state that he's as close to a saint as you can get these days. Did I mention that he's not my biological father either, but instead adopted my brother and I at the age of 10 and 12 (respectively)?....

What have you and your father done btw? If the two of you combined did half of what my father has managed to accomplish in service of your community in all your lives up to this point, then I'd be mightily impressed. So, pardon me If I'm instead content to just sit here and laugh my ass at your silly arguments! Please leave my family out of your pitiful attempts to bring me down to your juvenile level btw. Please work on your critical reading skills too. I think that if you re-read my initial post you'll see that I stated (in parenthesis), "not to say that my dad would have done the same"... In the mean time flame on dude if it makes you happy! :)

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @The Sword Master: well, no, there is plenty of evidence that cops are using Tasers in situations where guns or batons would not be used, specifically because they're less harmful. Lower consequences lead to greater risk of misuse.

Tasers do have potential as non-lethal tools for cops, but they have to come with a LOT more training and more procedural requirements for appropriate use.

alpacalypse

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Funny, I live in Kamloops. I didn't read the jump (because I already read it in the local paper), but the old man who got tased did indicate to the officers that a patient who was sleeping nearby was dead, and the cops didn't know at the time if the old man was the one who killed him. I would have tased his ass too. In any case, the man is fine and isn't being treated for anything other than his craziness.

hooked-on-tronics

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> I'm not condoning the use of Tasers in situations like this, but I hate it when people blame the Taser. Banning Tasers will not help. The alternatives to a Taser are a baton or gun.
Batons are much worse than Tasers, as are guns, obviously. People don't understand that with Tasers, it hurts for only as long as the current is going through you. Afterwards you are perfectly fine, if a bit (pardon the pun) shocked. This is why police may have to use it several times and then the public gets all up-in-arms. If you are beaten with a baton, it hurts during, and your bruises/broken bones will hurt afterwards. My dad, who is an RCMP officer, said he'd personally rather be Tasered than the alternatives, and he has been, as have a lot of police officers. Sure, some people are killed by Tasers, but they are usually people who otherwise would have hurt themselves or others or who would have been shot and killed anyway.


The Sword Master

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Ambigous Blob you are an idiot. plane and simple and im sure your father was a shitty cop. for the readers that do not live in canada, our police officers have been going alittle crazy with their tasers as of late. alot of canadian cities have banned them due to how dangerous they are including here in regina. Last year a man in an airport was killed by a police officer by use of a taser because he was panicking. He was from Poland and just finished flying half way around the world and was separated from his english speaking mother. Since he was panicking and stressed out, the police killed him by use of taser. That is fact. Was in intentional probably not but that is what happend. Now they are at it again. The man was 82!!! and in a hospital bed!!! They knew he had problems!!!! So 3 trained young men tased him(bro). Yes gizmodo is a gadget site but that doesnt mean they cant point out when something is wrong!

Jad35

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Why did he still have pants? Why was it less dangerous to reach in and touch his torso 3 times than to grab his arm, or God forbid just bide your time and talk him down? Did he have a record of violence? Was he issuing threats? Why three tasings? Surely they could have disarmed him shortly after the first. I'm normally pretty pro law enforcement, but there are a lot of questions here.

Good post, Addie. We'd go nuts if we had nothing to read but cell phone specs.

GadgetPlay

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @jrlittlejr:
Your panties are still in a bunch over CES? -REALLY?
That was a tempest in a teapot!
Wow.
Even I'M over my anger at Gizmodo whoring themselves out to the iPhone, and I swore off of this place for about 2 weeks because of it.
Dude, learn to forgive and move on.
Life is too short!

Even "legitimate" "news" sources are scraping the bottom of the barrel nowadays.
What standard are you holding the gadget blogs to?

strider_mt2k

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]>

Wow, Amazon actually sells tasers!

oopl

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> So what, he got tazed. Beats getting shot. You're not supposed to carry knives into hospitals anyway. I don't see what the deal is.

Barry99705

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ Simpsons, waitaminute, who said I was a Applefanboy!?!?!!?!?!....

How dare you.......

.....reveal my dirty little secret!!!!.... Who squealed? Heads will role!

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> How is this post in any way related to Gizmodo as a gadget blog? I mean.. aside from the fact that Tazers use electricity, this is a completely irrelevant story for Gizmodo. Tazers have been around for more than a decade now, so what makes this relevant?? Between this kind of story, and all the NSFW stories about nude Wii playing and your recent editorial fascination with sex toys, and that BS stunt you guys pulled at CES with turning off the TV's ([gizmodo.com]), I think Gizmodo's editorial judgment has seriously deteriorated over the past couple of months. A sense of humor is fine... childish pranks, poor quality control, and bad editorial judgment is not.

jrlittlejr

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @matto: YAY!!!!!
I've always wanted to do something like that.
Ok, id like to thank my parents for bribing my skoo to pass me onto the 10th grade,and all the gizmodo staff, and of course....
@Ambigous Blob: YOu too sir are correct.




Simpsons-Movie-ruled

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @ simpsons, you're right. Absolutely one hundred percent right. However, if someone doesn't agree with an article, then they are free to write and critique it in turn however they want afterwards! It's part of what makes the internet great, and the "Comments" section on site a like Gizmodo even greater! Any time you write something in/on a public forum it's open to interpretation and debate. Ultimately it's the reader who matters. Whenever you write something, you always have to keep your audience in mind! If it's not clear, or is a little open for interpretation deviating from your intended message or idea, then bad on you.

I'm just saying is all. That was the first lesson (and most important) lesson I learned in the remedial English writing class I had to take in college a few semesters ago... @ Addy keep up the good work and please don't take this personally!

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Simpsons-Movie-ruled: you win The Prize for somehow working in Apple Fanboys.

matto

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> I read the whole article actually. It's the tone I took issue with. It's the way it's written that I didn't like. I read in between the lines, and it seemed very slanted and skewed, and just a little unfair when speaking about the officers in question in this incident. That first paragraph in fact almost seems like a indictment don't you think?...

-mike

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Addy Dugdale:Damn U beat me.

Simpsons-Movie-ruled

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: HEy, she can critique whoever the hell she wants, you people always have done it with this website(the apple fanboyness) I just look past that and still enjoy this site.(and no I didnt finish reading your comment, because its just ummmm, yea im going to leave now)
Now Addy, if you will please critique the police officers who shot a C.I.A agent......


Simpsons-Movie-ruled

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @Ambigous Blob: Where did I say that the Mounties actions were wrong? Try reading the last sentence of my post again.

AddyDugdale

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Addy, who are you to critique the actions of police officers?... Let me get this straight. you are an expert how again? The officers with years of on the job experience combined with highly specialized training, compared to your perceived insights on anecdotal information and bare facts of the incident after the fact, coupled with your expertise of..... gadgets?!? Right. (rolls eyes....) I guess the possibility of a police officer getting stabbed or cut (no matter how small or insignificant the wound, coupled with the risk of catching a disease due to a possibility of fluid exchange...) is ok with you while trying to wrestle away a knife from a delusional ill old man (who could already CUT HIMSELF!), as long as the man brandishing the knife doesn't get hurt?... versus, just taising him and getting him to relinquish the knife that way while also avoiding any permaneant harm to all parties involved isn't ok?...

I guess it's all about perception... My dad is a retired cop, and if you had to hear half of his horror stories growing up that I did about working a beat here in So-Cal, then you probably probably would have done the same (not to say that my dad would have done the same)... My grandfather is 87 btw, and the dude is scrappy. He too carries a knife, and at 87 after surviving both Diabetes and testicular cancer, I wouldn't want to f@#k with him... Older people are still people, capable of amazing and terrible things. F.Y.I. and just incase you missed the news flash people are living to be way older and healthier nowadays. And as a result, doing things that people their age wouldn't have done years ago at the same age. Like, having lots of unprotected sex thanks to the advent of pharmaceuticals like Viagra. Want to REALLY look at Grandma in a new light, or what that 'nice' old man next to you at the bus stop that you sometimes chat up is all about? I dare you to Google venereal disease's and old people....

Still want to try to wrestle that knife from that "grandpa" looking man? Thought so... Please stick to the gadget stories...

Ambigous Blob

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> It's not a hard equation:

Police indicident + weapon = force used.

They can fight the guy and risk getting stabbed - and also risk breaking a number of his old, brittle bones. Marrow creeps into the blood stream and suddenly he's having a heart attack or a stroke. He's dead.

They can shoot him. He's dead.

They can pepperspray him - involving a long and costly cleanup of the scene by hazmat.

Or the can zap him. He drops the weapon and is restrained quickly. Issue solved.

This isn't Canadians becoming meaner, this is the RCMP doing their job with a minimum of impact on the perp and the environment around him. Every single RCMP cadet gets tased during training - they know what they're handing out. I'd rather have that than a broken arm or jaw.

goldenrod

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> surely they could have easilly obtained the knife of him if he was bed bound? Unless it was a chain saw....

Yeebles

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @strider_mt2k: Because they don't discriminate. I would've like seeing the story another way:

'Police tases old man with knife, which in turn caused spasms in the man's arm, severely injuring all the police men. They are all in Intensive Care now.'

Groggy Banana

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> No word from the hospital staff on this story? -at all?
Just the victim and the police?

I wonder why?

strider_mt2k

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> @undeadmachine: A cop pulled me and my friend once for not properly hanging up the handset in a public telephone.

One hour of constant yelling with threats of arrest and so on. But our cops don't have tasers and donust. They just get bored and hungry.

Groggy Banana

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> As we see here, old people can be dangerous w/household tools, such as Pricing guns.

Git Em SteveDave is a poor substitute for LindsayJoy

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> blame Canada!

jcrockerman

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> Don't taze me youngster!

Jesustron

]]> <![CDATA[Canadian Cops Tase Knife-Wielding 82-Year-Old Patient in his Hospital Bed]]> around 20 years ago (in bc) a guy my sister went to school with got shot/killed by the cops for coming out of a house party (that was getting broken up by the cops) drunk and rowdy with a butter knife in his hand. seems to me this old guy got off easy