Officer Barney Fife mistakes gun for a tazer in shooting a black man. Biden calls for peace.

[Twilight Hue]

Wish it was funny like the title, but no doubt the police are still killing with impunity.


Biden calls for peaceful protests after police shooting of Daunte Wright

This is so bizarre that an officer can't tell the difference between a tazer and a gun?

 

[Revoltingest]

First, kudos for using "tazer", which is the word for such a device.
"Taser" is a brand name.

If it was indeed tazer vs gun confusion, this points to....
1) Poor training
2) Bad tazer design.
Consider....

When a cop who carries both experiences a high stress situation,
& if the tazer looks, feels, & operates much like a handgun, then
confusion is made reasonably possible. If the cop does get confused,
this also suggests that training is inadequate.
I'd favor redesigning the tazer so that it functions reasonably like
the handgun, but has features to alert the user to a big difference,
eg, make the tazer entirely a bright color.

 

[SomeRandom]

Wish it was funny like the title, but no doubt the police are still killing with impunity.


Biden calls for peaceful protests after police shooting of Daunte Wright

This is so bizarre that an officer can't tell the difference between a tazer and a gun?

The cynic in me says that he made up the switch up as an excuse after the fact.
I realise that that’s a bit judgemental but a fully trained officer (presumably) “accidentally” uses a gun when thinking it’s a taser? A tiny bit suspicious at the very least. Maybe he was just confused and in a high stress situation. Even then, one would assume that training would take this into account anyway????

Either way, this is not good.

 

[SigurdReginson]

Eh... When one is caught in the heat of the moment, I can see mistakes being made. Adrenaline is a hell of a thing, and people act first and think later in those situations.

That said, I'd be curious to see what the investigation reveals. If underhandedness is at play, throw the book at em.

 

[Harel13]

If it was indeed tazer vs gun confusion, this points to....
1) Poor training
2) Bad tazer design.
Consider....

Never knew tazers looked like that. On one hand, the point-and-shoot design is comfortable for use, but on the other hand, they may be too easily mixed up with one's gun, as in this unfortunate case.

 

[Revoltingest]

Never knew tazers looked like that. On one hand, the point-and-shoot design is comfortable for use, but on the other hand, they may be too easily mixed up with one's gun, as in this unfortunate case.

True dat. Ergonomics was one consideration when I
was a design engineer. It can be difficult to get right.
Experience...especially bad experience is most
illuminating & inspiring.

 

[Twilight Hue]

First, kudos for using "tazer", which is the word for such a device.
"Taser" is a brand name.

If it was indeed tazer vs gun confusion, this points to....
1) Poor training
2) Bad tazer design.
Consider....

When a cop who carries both experiences a high stress situation,
& if the tazer looks, feels, & operates much like a handgun, then
confusion is made reasonably possible. If the cop does get confused,
this also suggests that training is inadequate.
I'd favor redesigning the tazer so that it functions reasonably like
the handgun, but has features to alert the user to a big difference,
eg, make the tazer entirely a bright color.

It's no doubt poor training.

 

[We Never Know]

First, kudos for using "tazer", which is the word for such a device.
"Taser" is a brand name.

If it was indeed tazer vs gun confusion, this points to....
1) Poor training
2) Bad tazer design.
Consider....

When a cop who carries both experiences a high stress situation,
& if the tazer looks, feels, & operates much like a handgun, then
confusion is made reasonably possible. If the cop does get confused,
this also suggests that training is inadequate.
I'd favor redesigning the tazer so that it functions reasonably like
the handgun, but has features to alert the user to a big difference,
eg, make the tazer entirely a bright color.

Agreed. Even toy guns are/are supposed to be manufactured with bright orange on the end to help avoid confusion and making them easier to identify. .

 

[Twilight Hue]

The cynic in me says that he made up the switch up as an excuse after the fact.
I realise that that’s a bit judgemental but a fully trained officer (presumably) “accidentally” uses a gun when thinking it’s a taser? A tiny bit suspicious at the very least. Maybe he was just confused and in a high stress situation. Even then, one would assume that training would take this into account anyway????

Either way, this is not good.

In the Military we did combat drills over and over and over till we were doing it automatically or automatic reflex.

It seems repetitive drilling isn't part of police training

 

[Revoltingest]

Agreed. Even toy guns are/are supposed to be manufactured with bright orange on the end to help avoid confusion and making them easier to identify. .

I favor making toy guns entirely fluorescent colors.

 

[SigurdReginson]

In the Military we did combat drills over and over and over till we were doing it automatically or automatic reflex.

It seems repetitive drilling isn't part of police training

That's an excellent point... Or, it is a part of their training.

 

[The Hammer]

In the Military we did combat drills over and over and over till we were doing it automatically or automatic reflex.

It seems repetitive drilling isn't part of police training

And it absolutely needs to be, "train how you fight" was our mantra when I served.

 

[Twilight Hue]

The cynic in me says that he made up the switch up as an excuse after the fact.
I realise that that’s a bit judgemental but a fully trained officer (presumably) “accidentally” uses a gun when thinking it’s a taser? A tiny bit suspicious at the very least. Maybe he was just confused and in a high stress situation. Even then, one would assume that training would take this into account anyway????

Either way, this is not good.

It does seem they are trying to make excuses after the fact. Blame it as a rookie mistake rather than take full responsibility and accountability.

I guess that is for a court to decide.

 

[Twilight Hue]

That's an excellent point... Or, it is a part of their training.

I dunno. I was a soldier not a police officer.

But I have police in my family and friends circle and it seems they just periodically qualify but don't drill aside from special units.

 

[McBell]

First, kudos for using "tazer", which is the word for such a device.
"Taser" is a brand name.

If it was indeed tazer vs gun confusion, this points to....
1) Poor training
2) Bad tazer design.
Consider....

When a cop who carries both experiences a high stress situation,
& if the tazer looks, feels, & operates much like a handgun, then
confusion is made reasonably possible. If the cop does get confused,
this also suggests that training is inadequate.
I'd favor redesigning the tazer so that it functions reasonably like
the handgun, but has features to alert the user to a big difference,
eg, make the tazer entirely a bright color.

Making the tazer a different colour isn't gonna get the job done.
There needs to be a distinct difference in the feel when grabbing it.

 

[Revoltingest]

Making the tazer a different colour isn't gonna get the job done.
There needs to be a distinct difference in the feel when grabbing it.

I agree. But I haven't yet come up with a design that
would function reliably. Having 2 different sets of handling
characteristics poses a problem too.
I've been considering STTNG phasers design, which would
be intuitive enuf to avoid mishandling....

 

[Twilight Hue]

And it absolutely needs to be, "train how you fight" was our mantra when I served.

We did it so much we metaphorically puked it in our sleep.

But when you see stuff like this, then you know why repetitive drilling is employed as a part of training. Doing without thinking in the proper way or second nature.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I agree. But I haven't yet come up with a design that
would function reliably. Having 2 different sets of handling
characteristics poses a problem too.
I've been considering STTNG phasers design, which would
be intuitive enuf to avoid mishandling....

That would certainly be sensible.

 

[McBell]

I agree. But I haven't yet come up with a design that
would function reliably. Having 2 different sets of handling
characteristics poses a problem too.
I've been considering STTNG phasers design, which would
be intuitive enuf to avoid mishandling....

My thought is that the tazer should have a more "squishy" handle.
Tazers have little to no recoil, thus the handle can be more coushiny feeling.

The reason for the coushiny feeling is that when one is in an adrenalin filled situation you will notice as soon as your hand is on it whether you have the tazer or firearm.
At least, that is the "theory"...

 

[Revoltingest]

My thought is that the tazer should have a more "squishy" handle.
Tazers have little to no recoil, thus the handle can be more coushiny feeling.

The reason for the coushiny feeling is that when one is in an adrenalin filled situation you will notice as soon as your hand is on it whether you have the tazer or firearm.
At least, that is the "theory"...

It could feel like a breast implant, eh.
This might encourage preference to the more deadly handgun.