Wow, this turned into a real crapfest.
Now what struck me is the apparent shallowness of training those claiming to be some sort of LE type appear to have. If I understand their levels it is shot 'em, baton 'em, punch 'em, tase 'em, pull on an arm and the lowest level, ask them to comply. I am rather shocked that they don't know 'better' than that. I got to play citizen during a Reserve Academy. VERY INTERESTING. The experts so far have failed to mention come along techniques, pressure points and instead of beating people with the baton, using it as additional leverage in various holds. (Boy howdy- it does work!)
I figure the cops in the OP must have had crappy apprehension and detention training. I can't see certified trainers saying it is safe to taze pregnant women in the neck. I can't see the trainers not teaching pressure point and come along techniques. The pain in using pressure points is intense, but it isn't 50,000 volts through the nervous system. It is also over as soon as you stop applying the pressure.
Biggest problem I saw with cops, deputies, reserves is a lack of experience mixing it up. They fear that punch. If they are taught the above non taser, non beating the detainee techniques they don't keep current on the methods and it is far easier to just tase the bastard.
The first go rounds with the reserve academy students it was easily my win. The lead Instructor told the students to treat the detainees hard because the detainees will not spare them. Still hesitation made 'em easy meat. By the time we got to domestics they gave it back but good. I tried repeatedly to strip the pistol and got halted but good without being beaten down... training gentlemen, training and the confidence/guts to see it through without shooting/tasing/beating with a baton.
Anyway tasers used frequently and that is a comparison to the rest of the force and not a nationwide number, but cops using their tasers a lot are generally one of three types, or a combination of several...
Lazy
Poorly trained
afraid to go toe to toe.
Tasers have their place, but not on simple traffic stops on PG women.
Perhaps the woman would have sued no matter what, it is however a much harder to sell to a jury if she complains about being pinched between her thumb and forefinger on one hand and had her other arm lifted up REAL HIGH behind her back, vs hospital pics of burn spots on her neck :shock: