| Most law enforcement policies allow "reasonable and | | | | commands absent combative or aggressive actions |
| necessary [force] to protect others or themselves | | | | by the suspect." Law enforcement policy is to use a |
| from bodily harm." The debate over the use of force | | | | baton as a primarily defensive weapon. There are |
| by police is a decades old question. How much is too | | | | over twenty positions and officer can perform, such |
| much? Should police be allowed to use TASERs, | | | | as a "Power Chop, the Pool-Cue Jab and the Yarawa |
| pepper spray, batons, et cetera. Almost any weapon | | | | Strike, which an officer can use to ward off an |
| can be abused and many have been throughout | | | | attack from the rear." |
| history. However, it is important that we not repeat | | | | Despite this training, far too often video and |
| the situation of the early 1930s when law | | | | eyewitness accounts of police officer's using |
| enforcement agents were at a severe disadvantage | | | | excessive and even brutal force against someone is |
| against violent criminals who were armed better than | | | | shown on national and local news. The names of |
| they were. Proper training in defense techniques and | | | | many victims: Rodney Glen King, Maurice White, |
| emphasis of "necessary force" only should reduce the | | | | Richard Rodriguez, Kailee Martinez, Hope Steffy, |
| infrequent cases of "police brutality" and keep our | | | | James Williams and others testify to the sobering |
| law enforcement personnel safer. | | | | fact that the abuse of the law happens. Thankfully, |
| Police nightsticks have other uses besides as a | | | | the solution is simple, "we should see and insist the |
| weapon. Many officers employ their baton to help | | | | rule of law apply to lawless law enforcement |
| them direct traffic, or rescue someone trapped by | | | | officers...There is no other recourse than the |
| breaking a car window after an accident. For the | | | | unwavering application of the law against all who |
| cases when a nightstick is utilized as a weapon, | | | | break it." Disarming all law enforcement officials |
| officers are trained "that the baton should not be | | | | because of the mistakes and bad judgment of a few |
| used against the head, spine or kidneys, except in | | | | officers puts everyone in greater danger from those |
| cases when an officer's life is in danger. Nor should | | | | who do not respect the law to begin with. |
| the baton be used "to gain compliance to verbal | | | | |