Thinks officer Howard was serving and protecting
Admittedly, I was not in the Emergency Room when the incident occurred and only have Wednesday’s Dispatch article concerning the officer drawing her Taser. However, it looks like a “tempest in a teapot.”
Here are a couple of general observations.
First, just because an offender is handcuffed and shackled does not mean he is subdued, nor does it mean he is not a threat. Secondly, Officer Howard has a duty to “serve and protect,” and I think she could make a pretty strong argument she was doing just that for the ER staff and any patients subjected to Hudson’s obscene behavior.
I think she showed remarkable restraint in not duct taping his mouth. Unholstering her Taser seems to be the modern day equivalent of a beat cop pulling his baton and slapping it against his other hand.
If the department thinks it’s that big a deal that officer Howard did not announce she was drawing her Taser, perhaps a fitting punishment would be have her stand at attention for five minutes while her sergeant chews her out. Then she could drop and give him 30 push-ups.
Meanwhile, Chief Lewis and Officer Howard’s partner should call on Mr. Hudson and explain to him how they expect our officers to be treated.
Bob Altman
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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