Another Crappy-American-Cops Thread.

Originally posted by King Kandy
He wasn't an immigrant he was hear on a one-year student exchange... I don't think it is reasonable at all to demand all tourists learn english.

There was no break in. Literally the only thing he did "wrong" was not speaking english. Are you honestly supporting that the police can taze anyone they meet who doesn't speak english? This is a beyond absurd notion.

Other actions taken within the last couple years: tazing nonviolent protesters, tazing people who had already given up, tazing an autistic kid who was basically doing nothing at all. Its not like it was some mistake, the police take that as a default reaction to any situation they enter.

I agree that tourists shouldn't have to learn English. If they're coming to America with a tour group for only a week to see Disney Land or the Grand Canyon, then yeah, there's really no need to study English. But that guy wasn't a tourist; he was on a 12-month exchange program. So he should have learned English (at least a passing, conversational amount) prior to coming here. How else would he have communicated with professors, counselors, advisors, or--not to mention--fellow students? I suppose he could have taken the route of many other foreign students who come to America to study, and only hang out with small groups that consist entirely of their fellow countrymen, all the while only speaking their language. (Which if you think about it, kills the whole purpose of visiting America in the first place.)

Regardless, the police weren't out-of-line. The man should have calmly surrendered and the situation would have been resolved without incedent. But instead he caused a scene by shrieking like a nutcase under a blanket in a different tongue, which caused reasonable concern to the officers, who then gave him some volts. And it was all due to a language barrier that could have been removed, had the kid bothered to learn a few words before applying for a visa. And I would say the same to any American kids considering studying abroad in a non-English speaking country: do yourself a favor and learn some of the local language. Ignorance of it can lead to a bar-fight, getting fleeced by a salesman, or getting tased by the five-o.

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
I agree that tourists shouldn't have to learn English. If they're coming to America with a tour group for only a week to see Disney Land or the Grand Canyon, then yeah, there's really no need to study English. But that guy wasn't a tourist; he was on a 12-month exchange program. So he should have learned English (at least a passing, conversational amount) prior to coming here. How else would he have communicated with professors, counselors, advisors, or--not to mention--fellow students? I suppose he could have taken the route of many other foreign students who come to America to study, and only hang out with small groups that consist entirely of their fellow countrymen, all the while only speaking their language. (Which if you think about it, kills the whole purpose of visiting America in the first place.)

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
Regardless, the police weren't out-of-line. The man should have calmly surrendered and the situation would have been resolved without incedent. But instead he caused a scene by shrieking like a nutcase under a blanket in a different tongue, which caused reasonable concern to the officers, who then gave him some volts. And it was all due to a language barrier that could have been removed, had the kid bothered to learn a few words before applying for a visa. And I would say the same to any American kids considering studying abroad in a non-English speaking country: do yourself a favor and learn some of the local language. Ignorance of it can lead to a bar-fight, getting fleeced by a salesman, or getting tased by the five-o.

Now answer my question: Do you honestly think the police should have unlimited power to taze people, simply because they don't speak english? English isn't even a legally manditory language in the US.

Originally posted by King Kandy
They take classes on language and are expected to attain greater fluency over the course of their stay... not move in with a complete understand.

I would take a guess and say that he knows how to say the following:

"Where is the bathroom?"

"Thank you."

"How much for an hour?"

Also, I asked a question about this case, earlier. How SHOULD it have been handled? I honestly do not know how it should have been handled.

I think the police should have made an effort to see if the threat was legitimate before even entering the room... you can't go into a crime scene and taze the first people you see and think that will go well. The guy made no signs of resistance other than not obeying the verbal commands, so tazing was way out of line.

Originally posted by King Kandy
I think the police should have made an effort to see if the threat was legitimate before even entering the room... you can't go into a crime scene and taze the first people you see and think that will go well. The guy made no signs of resistance other than not obeying the verbal commands, so tazing was way out of line.

I don't think it's that simple to address a breaking and entering while the "perp" is still on the premises.

Originally posted by dadudemon
I think it's an iffy situation. I do not know what the best course of action is: he could have been aiming for the police under the blanket.

Which is very important. He wasn't responding so what can the police assume?

This is what I thought the best and only way to handle it, was, but it's not really an option, as I pointed out:

Originally posted by dadudemon
The cops are supposed to make a split-second decision in which their life or the life of their coworkers could end abruptly. What was the best course of action? I think standing outside the room, out of the line of sight of a potential gun firing, while watching him with one of those curved mirror thingies that swat teams use. 😆

That's really the only and best way to properly handle it. That's not an option, though, for 99% of cops out there. Also, the young man DID know some English.

I guess you could say that the police shouldn't worry about being shot and should respond to breaking and entering calls while wearing their vest. They could have charged and grabbed the dude that was thought to be a burg. or a robber.

The funniest part of this whole thing is the boy was scared utterly shitless to the point of hiding under a blanket. That's similar to a small child hiding their eyes when they get scared. Pitiful, but funny.

Also, I do not mind this thread being taken off topic: as long as it focuses on the best or worst way to respond to a criminal situation and relates back to the thread topic.

Not to mention, growing up in china may not have given him a great attitude on the police.

Originally posted by inimalist
what could he have been thinking to justify being beat while on the ground?

Who knows there is a side of the story I don't think we know too much about.

Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
Who knows there is a side of the story I don't think we know too much about.

Originally posted by ADarksideJedi
Who knows there is a side of the story I don't think we know too much about.

but my question is, what could their side of the story possibly be to justify beating a defenseless man? what could possibly be going through their head to make it ok?

Originally posted by King Kandy
They take classes on language and are expected to attain greater fluency over the course of their stay... not move in with a complete understand.

And that guy apparently took no classes.

Originally posted by King Kandy
He did not "shriek like a nutcase" he did not make any sound at all, or cause a scene. You are literally making things up now to support your (stupid) case. He couldn't "surrender calmly" because he didn't know they were police.

He did actually. I remember when this story first broke, and I read various articles on the net. According to the Eugene Chief of Police Pete Kerns, Judd Warden (the officer who performed the tasing, and who was previously named Officer of the Year) said that words were exchanged, but obviously neither person understood the other. I'm not making shit up; I'm relaying what happened.

He didn't know they were cops? Well, maybe if he had bothered to peak from under the blanket, he might have seen the uniforms, badges and weapons.

Originally posted by King Kandy
Now answer my question: Do you honestly think the police should have unlimited power to taze people, simply because they don't speak english? English isn't even a legally manditory language in the US.

Its the official language of 27 states.

No, I don't think they should. They have the discretion to do so when a given situation necassitates use of the non-lethal weapon. The same applies to pepperspray and the baton.

He wasn't zapped for not knowing English or "for no reason", the officer in question percieved the suspect as unruly, insubordinate, or otherwise disorderly. It all could been avoided if the foreigner cared enough to learn a few words of the language spoken in the country he chose to study in.

Originally posted by inimalist
but my question is, what could their side of the story possibly be to justify beating a defenseless man? what could possibly be going through their head to make it ok?

Sometimes cops have to do that to get the person control.I don't think that it is needed but that could be part of the reason the cop did that.