Ozark Police Department's (Ozark, MO) Taser Cams Don't Go Far Enough
It's been just over a year since a teenage boy with a broken back was tasered 19 times by Ozark police officers in Ozark, Missouri. Mace Hutchinson was 16-years-old at the time. He was discovered under an overpass on US 65 with a broken back and foot. The story gained the attention of the national media including CNN and Alex Jones.What happened next is unclear. What is clear is Ozark police officers abused the power they were given. Obviously immobile, police officers claimed it was necessary to taser the boy. One thing is for sure, how can Ozark police officers justify the use of a taser 19 times of a 16-year-old boy with a broken back and a broken foot.
Ozark Police officers claim the boy started chanting anti-police words, and tried to run from them across the highway. You have to remember the boy had a broken back and a broken foot and was probably in shock, not exactly the most mobile situation for a person. Regardless of what the boy done, the healthy Ozark police force should have been able to contain the boy and get him emergency medical attention without the excessive use of force. This isn't the first time the Ozark police have been accused of excessive use of force. Many residents in the small town claim police officers abuse their force and then cover themselves on their police reports often leaving out important details.
An investigation followed into the use of tasers in Ozark, MO. The investigation concluded that indeed Hutchinson was tasered 19 times, and Ozark Police Department Captain Thomas Rousset mandated that a $400 taser cam would now be attached to the tasers.
An amazing thing happened after the cameras were purchased. Not one officer used their taser in the first month in which the cameras were installed. Imagine that, when officers have eyes upon them which may disprove their police reports they work not to employ the technology.
The Ozark Police Department didn't go far enough. If they have technology to place cameras on tasers, then they have technology to place cameras on cops. Just because Ozark police or any police department in the country has a taser cam and which has lowered their use of tasers doesn't mean abuse by police officers has ended. Until police wear cameras on their persons, police reports will remain doctored and the average citizen is under the mercy of how honest the officer is who files the complaint.
According to Alex Jones, the Ozark Police Department did not return KY3's follow up calls to the story concerning the Missouri Highway Patrol's investigation of the Ozark Police Department. Are they really here to serve and protect? Until they have cameras placed on their persons, I have my doubts about that. I do know using a taser on a person 19 times violates their Constitutional rights.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Welcome to police state America.
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10 comments:
Cops are free to make up any story they want all because they aren't forced to wear any kind of recording device to keep them in check. Notice when they get a taser cam, taser incidents go down. If that doesn't suggest abuse, I don't know what does.
There needs to be a push in this country for officers to wear cameras. Everywhere I look in America these days, there are cameras to convict the people of something, but there are few devices to protect people from the lies of the police.
BB: Look at all the cameras in place just to get a snapshot of your license plate if you run a red light, but you're right. Police need to be held to the same surveillance standard as everyone else.
I would have love to see the cops explaining how threatened they felt by one guy with a broken back.
Con Lady!!! Their feelings were probably hurt by something the kid said. And we all know just how much that justifies tasering! ;-)
These cops need to let ME have the taser for a while!
The cops were found innocent of any wrongdoing. They claimed they thought the boy was on LSD during the investigation by state police, but they never had him tested for LSD. I guess they can claim anything to justify their abuse of power.
Is there any ongoing investigation into the cops BB? You said that they were cleared, but I'm just wondering if anyone else besides IAD is investigating.
If I were a citizen there, I would be in fear for my families lives. Thanks Fan
I know of none.
Not with agents Smith and Wesson protecting me, Odie! :-)
This is just disgraceful. B & G Fan.
Cops, and other "people" in authority, are always free to make up any story they want, and their victims find it impossible to prove the truth.
I'm glad this has come to light. I hope that boy is feeling better...maybe a lawsuit with TONS of money will make him feel better. If I was him and his family, I would try and move.
These days, it would be nice if all innocent citizens walked around with cameras pinned to their lapels. These evil perps will do whatever they want, until they know they are being recorded and the jig is up.
Happy Early Halloween! I know I've been MIA but your friendship and "pep talk" started my day off wonderful, and it ended pretty well too, BOF.
Thanks and GOD Bless, Troops say hey and Kitty Video's are on my page.
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