This post being in Tactics and training, and labeled taser in action...this is great, was what made me critical of the officer's tactic's. I have never arrested a drunk, I have been in some scuffles, and when I worked as a truck driver, I made frequent deliveries on and worked along highways. I did not see any cars during the arrest, but I do know that they hardly move over, and do not slow down, from my experience being pushed into a street, means big trouble. I see that video and see people I know being pushed into traffic, or hurt, I just believe that stop had the potential to go bad. It was a "win", but in a sports analogy, an ugly win. Some departments do not have tasers, and with the drunk facing away from the officer, I am not sure if pepper sprayy would have worked
My thinking on dropping the light, is that If the drunk, looked at the light, when he heard it hit the ground, the officer might get an opening to grab him, and apply the wristlock, or the hold, that he tried at first, from what I have seen, most people will bend at the waist to pick up something on the ground, hopefully the officer could grab him by the back of the neck, and the pants, and force him off balance and to the ground, put his knee in his back and cuff him, if the guy squatted, I would have thought, that he was going to charge, and escalated the situation.
As for an officer, or somebody dealing with people, and needing to be 300#'s, and bench 400#'s, I have seen age enabled doormen, at bars, use the old back of the pants, and scruff of the neck trick to "walk" people out of bars. The main factor was that they had the mindset, training, experience, whatever, that this person was leaving, and they left.
I would like governments, to spend money on more training for police, corrections, and probation/parole officers. I bet by cutting welfare rolls, the money could be found. Some corrections facilities in MI, have small workout facilities as well as some firehouses. A basic rack, that can be used for squatting, and benching can be bought for around $200, a bench for about $100, an olympic weight set for another $200, a machine for doing pullups, and pulldowns about $400. A curling bar, and triceps bar for maybe another $50 each. Sometimes by offering employess, facilities to train in, can decrease health insurance premiums.
My wife is very limited equipment wise what she can carry, a gun, and pepper spray, that is good for maybe one shot, no knife, limited calibers, no BUG. The only thing, that I think that isn't prohibited is a bullet proof vest, I am looking into one, that is concealable, and easy to wear. Better firearms training, the proper way to knock on a door of a possibe BG, and working out, none of which the state pays for are other things I would like to look into. She had to buy here own folders, and filing system, to put her cases into. I am saying that departments are putting people's life's in danger, because of the lack of training, the bean counters say that workman's comp premiums or medical retirements, are cheaper. Even with the economy being bad, almost 50% of agents quit, before 6 months, and I think that they have an ad for corrections officers, statewide, on the state of MI website, for the last 5 years. As an example, probation officers, by contract are not suposed to be supervising cases, until they have 6 months experince, they usual time is about 6 weeks, and you get 40 cases, you do not even get scheduled for training on the computer system until your 4th month, and can not carry, until 6 months, even though my wife was qualifed with a .38, G-22, 870 12 ga, and Mini-14, she had tower training, and prisoner transport training. All of which was shot at non-moving paper targets, while standing still.
I am blaming the system, that puts officers in danger, not the officers. It always seems to be about money, and putting a pricetag, on human suffering, tell a pencil pusher, to try and play with their kid with a workman's comp check, or go to the mail box, or walk their dog. Most things happen in the blink of an eye, but last a lot longer, the medical costs alone for 1 workman's comp case, could probably pay for a whole lot of training, but that individual will never get back the time out of their life.
]