UCLA Student Tasered in Library

1. Catherine November 16, 2006

   At MFPOW, at 11:30 pm, the only staff in the building would have been students (undergrad and grad assistants), and paraprofessionals. Depending on where the confrontation occurred (again, at MFPOW), none of those might have been anywhere nearby — and yes, that includes near the main exit – that station was usually staffed by one paraprofessional and one security person.
2. Catherine November 16, 2006

   Also, yikes. I think I’m going to be hearing his screams in my nightmares for a while.
3. Toni Carter November 20, 2006

   That made me sick to my stomach. Unbelievable.
4. Stephen November 21, 2006

   Maybe UCLA is 1) hiring LAPD retirees, 2) hiring LAPD rejects, or 3) training with LAPD.
5. explodedlibrary.info December 16, 2006

   librarian reactions to the taser incident in UCLA’s Powell Library…

   ALA President Leslie Burger has written an open letter to UCLA Acting Chancellor, Norman Abrams, expressing her concern and shock at the taser incident which happened in the Powell Library on November 14, 2006. This follows condemnation by ACRLog and…
6. Chris December 22, 2006

   And this… Is why I hate cops.

   *and the speeding tickets don’t help any..
7. John Gallagher December 24, 2006

   I agree that use of a taser is a significant act and one that needs to be used in conjunction with a thought out/common sense escalation of force plan. However, let’s not forget the “victim” was guilty of failing to follow officer’s directions. We all need to understand that the police are enforcing order. This individual should have exited the premises when initially asked. The whole episode would have ended there had he done so. Instead, he refuses to comply or “complies at his own speed” and so suffers his fate.

   Absolutely investigate the escalation of force. But remember the ownership the tased individual has here. The system has turned 180 degrees to the point where the guilty are always innocent (in the eyes of the media) and the police are always guilty. Let’s remember who we rely on to save us when we’re victims of lawless persons.

   A Concerned Citizen
8. Joy Holland January 5, 2007

   I believe the boy tried to finish up what he doing in the computer lab before he took his backpack to leave. Not a criminal act, nor was acting slow to leave the building. He WAS leaving you know. The police were responsible for keeping peace and did not do it. Isn’t their alternative title “Peace Officers”?

   Ever hear of “EXCESSIVE FORCE”??? The investigation of the excessive force of the police should be the correct response, not the boy in the library. It’s all on tape. Use your eyes and your brain for what God intended, and be concerned about the citizens who want to downplay it.
9. JON January 26, 2007

   unfortunately police officers are always considered guilty by the public until the courts prove them, not innocent but justified in their actions. this case is one that shouldn’t need much explaining. 1. the student, who failed to prove he was a student, was asked to leave. HE DID NOT. 2. when leaving was confronted by police officers who now must assist this gentleman in leaving and he does not comply with their commands. IF HE CANNOT PROVIDE ID HE IS ASSUMED TO BE TRESSPASSING. 3. did not comply with officers and acted in a passive aggressive nature. calling upon other students to act with him is not only dangerous to himself but also to other students putting the officers in a defensive mindset. the officers must not only worry about the person they are trying to apprehend, but they must also worry about a large crowd of students gathering and yelling at them… put yourself in their shoes! alot of students, most of whom did not understand the student put himself in that position, are now angry and you and 2 other officers (1 or 2 not sure video is difficult) need to control a pissed off criminal and a large angry crowd who do not understand the law as well as the trained profesionals(most police officers!). BOTTOM LINE: the student F—ed up! unfortunately for him his bipolar disorder probably made the situation more difficult.
   the officers chose in this situation to use a taser instead of more hands on physical force. proving that a taser was more effective is difficult but, with the crowd of students that gathered quickly the taser in this instance is also used as a deterant, or an intimidator to the other students.
10. Catherine December 17, 2009

    At MFPOW, at 11:30 pm, the only staff in the building would have been students (undergrad and grad assistants), and paraprofessionals. Depending on where the confrontation occurred (again, at MFPOW), none of those might have been anywhere nearby — and yes, that includes near the main exit – that station was usually staffed by one paraprofessional and one security person.

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