Officer Rich McNevin taser - round two!
This comment is one of best responces to the Officer Rich McNevin post. If you aren’t familiar with the story then check it out. Some folks responded that the ‘bitch’ got what she deserved while others folks appeared to think the guys with the police department perhaps reacted too harshly. Well, I tend to side with the latter with the most recent post more closely matching my thoughts on the officers actions.
What ever happened to “Serve and Protect”?
What ever happened to the Bill of Rights?I agree that the woman was stupid, obnoxious, loud, etc. (but those aren’t crimes) and she was not an immediate threat to the officer or his buddy. They should have shown more restraint. Tazing her was the use of life threatening force against her attitude and big mouth.
They should be reprimanded, and potentially prosecuted.
We as citizens have a right to question Nazi strom troopers; and when asked to get out of your car by a police officer — you have the right to do so.
As an ex-police officer I’ve advised my wife and children to keep the window rolled up and door locked when approached by one of these thugs. And at night, I’ve advised them to drive to the nearest police station before pulling over to be safe from copy-cat-cops and the few steroid doped-up uber-criminals dressed in uniform.
Two armed and dangerous cops against an unarmed woman… they couldn’t call a supervisor, or the race relations officer, or a woman officer.
I’m sure Rich is a really nice guy, that is, in most situations. I’m also sure he would risk his life, to run in to save anyone else’s in a dire life-or-death situation. But hey, I would too… and I have. But a mistake in judgement like this has to be dealt with seriously, or else it erodes all our rights.
BTW, If he’s tazing unarmed woman because he’s afraid for his life, it’s time for him to go back to school, get a degree in accounting and quit being a police officer. His wife and children will appreciate it as well…
January 17th, 2007 at 12:53 am #DJK
You couldn’t be farther off. I was pepper sprayed while on duty by a ‘cell phone’ clone and ended up fighting for my life.
The driver was arrestable and after numerous opportunities to follow direction she continued to try and escalate this situation for lord knows what purpose. She had the right to comply…period and make her arguements before the judge…there is no trial by the roadside.
Praise to the officer for the patience he showed and finally taking the approriate action.
Shame on you for being so close minded to what the officer knew would be on video.
February 28th, 2007 at 10:59 pm #old nigger woman
Well she was a typical “everyone’s out to get me” nigger. She got far less than what she deserved. Do you realize that she actually lives in the same world as we do? Think of all the obnoxious shit she probably pulls on a day to day basis. Now she’s trying to sue. typical.
May 16th, 2007 at 2:44 am #Deputy for an SO in South Florida
first of all i doubt very highly that you are a police officer. as per state statue in florida according to the use of force matrix, the use of a taser is acceptable for any type of physical resistance. an example would be bracing, tensing, or pulling. In this case the woman refused Ofc. McNevin’s lawful command and pulled her arm away. This constitutes active phsycial resistence in which Ofc. McNevin was allowed to deploy a taser. The reason I doubt you are a police officer is if you instruct your wife to leave the windows rolled up and the car locked, you are telling your wife to break the law and not comply witht he lawful commands of a police officer. Ofc. Mcnevin used a resonable amount of force in accordance with state statue. end of story.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:42 pm #Nathan LaHue, Concord NH
Papers…….Let me see your papers…..
Yes Mein Freund! SIG HIEL!
Welcome to the beginning of Fascism America.
And yes, I am a cop. Just one that believes in NOT escalating the situation to TASERING THE SHIT out of a citizen for a FUCKING EXPIRED LICENCE. You want to be badge heavy, I hope you get a taste of your own medicine. Notice I didn’t say hold the suspects hand and coddle them - Yes bad guys are out there, I get it, I get it (get off it). But its also called RULE OF LAW (i.e. the Constitution - what we swore to uphold and protect). I guess that makes me a tin-foil hat wearing law enforcement officer.
August 1st, 2007 at 4:42 pm #Eric
@ DJK…
‘You couldn’t be farther off. I was pepper sprayed while on duty by a ‘cell phone’ clone and ended up fighting for my life.’
You almost died from Pepper spray?? Sissy…
August 31st, 2007 at 6:48 pm #John
Officer McNevin is a sadist and the way some of you make him out as anything else is sick.
2 armed officers tasing an unarmed woman twice, is not heroic it’s cowardly.
The last time I saw cops behave so cowardly was as they hid behind ambulances at Columbine, while the students inside where being murdered.
Soldiers / Police anyone who volenteers to shoot his neighbor at the behest and payment of the State, is the worst kind of criminal. They should be seen not as heros but as trained killers, set loose amougnst us. People who wish to control others by force are sick and need help, not a badge.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:59 pm #CC
This bitch was not innocent. She was told numerous times to get out of the car. She would not have been tased if she followed directions and not had resisted arrest. Yes she was unarmed, but so what? If the cop would have wanted to hurt her he had a nightstick and a gun.
To the woman tased, TAKE SOME FUCKING RESPONSIBILITY!! Just because you are black does not mean you can speed, have a broken windshield, mouth the cops, drive on a suspended license, and have a broken tail light and get away with it.
The cop is right to do that. If it was a black officer tasing a white person there would be no outcry!!
September 20th, 2007 at 10:08 pm #MALCOME X
YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE BLACK MENTALITY THAT THEY ARE SOMEHOW ABOVE THE LAW.
September 24th, 2007 at 11:57 pm #CC
Well said. The “I’s black so I’s above de’ law and too good ta worke.”
October 10th, 2007 at 12:15 pm #Matthew Farmer
i don’t think it’s necessary to use a potentially deadly taser against a woman, who is resisting to leave her car.
to me thats just not the right use of force. it more feels like looking for a reason to use that cool new tool on my belt.
actually i am not an american, i am german. the positions from malcome x and cc stated above, are those who ruled our country some time ago. i don’t think people are all the same, but i think everyone deserves it to be respectfully treated as a human being. yes, she was told to get out of the car - resisting was a stupid idea… but no one on earth would guess that someone is using a deadly weapon against you, just for resisting. i have to admit…i would fear for my country to drift into a world where torture,anger and brutal force is a legitimate way of solving banal problems, where the majority seems to live with the intention : if i don’t do anything wrong, i won’t get punished.
who decides what’s wrong ? is it wrong to be black for instance ?
October 29th, 2007 at 5:40 pm #Wayne R Masters Jr
When I am elected into public office, I will personally throw these types of officers in jail where they belong and throw away the key. Society has no place for people who place themselves above the law. The ONLY time an officer should have the right to fire a gun or use a taser is if there is an immediate threat to his/her life. In the case of McNevin, he should have given her a ticket and called it a day. I hope this woman brings a lawsuit that will bring the community to its knees. I can only say to officer McNevin and others like him - there are individuals who are entering into the political and legal arenas who will scrutinize your types under the hottest microscope. You are an employee of the taxpayer and if you want to keep your jobs, you better start playing by the rules.
January 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm #mark
if that Fing pig did that to anyone in my family… I would hunt is ass down and put bullets in his wife, his kids and his momma’s head.. then him
January 21st, 2008 at 6:45 pm #iisan
i didn’t even notice that she was black because the video was so grainy, i thought she was white. anyway, wtf. i can’t believe anyone thinks this is ok for a broken taillight and suspended license. why did they even ask her to get out of the car? I’ve gotten a ticket and been in cars with friends who’ve gotten tickets and even when I was a little ticked at the officer and trying to avoid being written up, i never had to get out of the car.
January 21st, 2008 at 6:53 pm #iisan
oh i saw the lengthened version now. previously i saw a shorter version. still, even if belligerent… I could see him getting anxious. He could have drawn the taser and given her a sense of the gravity of the situation rather than such a short warning then firing. The second time was really too much. She was on the ground already - and he said she was bleeding… tasing again is just sadistic.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:21 am #amttrey
GIve me a break. Watch the ENTIRE video. The woman was wrong. Skin color doesn’t matter. WRONG is WRONG. Had she been of a different race, with the same billigerent attitude, I’m sure the officer would have reacted and acted in the exact same manner. This is not about race, don’t make it a race issue. This is not about being a Nazi, don’t make it that type of issue either. When instructed to follow a direct order from someone in authority, (ie., boss, parents, police, governor, mayor, professors etc.) you do it. Especially if the command is not life threatening. YOU DO IT! period.
If you are already breaking the law, keep your mouth shut, and do what is asked of you.
I am a black (African American) man, and I watch the ENTIRE video, and I think that Officer McNevin was justified.
I would have done the exact same thing.
For those of you who do believe in God, check out the book of Proverbs. There are several scriptures that instruct you to keep your mouth shut!!!!!!!!!!
April 6th, 2008 at 10:21 pm #Adam
It never surprises me to see the ignorant comments of those who have had NO EXPERIENCE in law enforcement. The police are not your servents, in the sense that you can tell them when YOU’RE READY to do what they tell you to do.
The woman broke the law, refused to obey the NUMEROUS commands of a police officer, and he did what he had to do. So what should they have done, let her ramble on and on, argue, and then maybe go for that gun? Believe me, that’s what is going on in police officer’s minds when they approach situations like that. Plenty of cops have been lulled into that type of situation, only to be shot, or injuried in the end. He left the scene unscaved, which is the goal.
If he would have grabbed her or pulled her out, a fight could have insued, and thus injuries to the officer. So like I said, if you haven’t had any meaningful experience with law enforcement, you should probably JUST DO what cops tell you to do, and then argue your point in court. NUF SAID!
May 1st, 2008 at 2:48 pm #Xantheus
There are to many morons (Nathan LaHue for one) who think driveing is a right. I got news for you Nathan LaHue of Concord NH driving is a privilege and that privilege can be takeing away. Oh btw if your a cop im Barack Obama.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:21 pm #JsYBLu
Are u kidding me If anyone who watched this video thinks the cop is wrong you are a complete idiot. Maybe he should of waited for her to tell her brother and anyone else he decided to call where she was so they could come to the scene and kill one of the cops. To the cops questioning these officer’s actions u should be ashamed !! try working as a gardner or some other job where u won’t place your fellow brother and sister officers at risk with your bleeding heart views. P.S. do me a favor if u hear a fellow officer yelling for help on the radio don’t bother showing up they will be better off without you!
June 26th, 2008 at 3:23 pm #CC
Wayne McMasters Jr said: “Society has no place for people who place themselves above the law. ”
YOU ARE RIGHT - Society has no place for Victoria Goodwin.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:25 am #Tyler
You (author) are stupid, it is a crime when a public servent (officer) tells you to do something and not do it that is a arrestable offense so JOG ONNNNN!!!!
July 1st, 2008 at 7:57 pm #Karmakaze
God all you people saying that the officer was justified are pathetic excuses for a human being - most especially the Americans.
Since when has “refusing to obey” been an offence punishable by torture? You Americans should be ashamed of yourselves - you don’t even deserve to be Americans. Land of the free my ass.
“Pain Compliance” as “police officers” call it is torture, plain and simple. When a cop asks you a question and you refuse to answer in the “interview room” and he punches you in the face to make you talk… that’s torture i.e. “pain compliance”. So why is it different if you are sitting in a car? Did the officer see a weapon? Did the officer even suspect there was one there?
Of course he didn’t - this black woman was refusing to “respect his authority” (as Cartman would put it) and so he made sure the “uppity nigger” regretted it by electrocuting her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m NOT saying he’s racist, I’m saying that to cops like him, we are ALL “uppity niggers” needing to be put in our place.
And all these “Uncle Tom’s” claiming he has every right to torture someone for refusing to obey, all deserve to live as slaves for the rest of their miserable, pathetic lives.
The only thing good about this whole thing, is the knowledge that Officer Shit-for-brains has a very good chance of getting his ass blown away by someone who won’t take his (and others’ like him) bullshit anymore.
On that day, the world will be a slightly better place.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:00 am #Chris
Its not about driving with a suspended license or driving with a broken windshield. It is about the fact that she was being arrested. If you are being arrested, they tell you to step out of the car and you refuse, then you are resisting arrest, plain and simple. And yes, driving with a suspended license is an arrest-able offense. (obviously their license was suspended for a reason, do you want these people on the road with you and your family?)
The taser is not deadly force. On the use of force continuum, it is on the same level as pepper spray (which is right above verbal challenges). In addition, the taser was only deployed after several repeated warnings and its use was ceased immediately upon compliance. Does he need to see a gun? absolutely not. When the suspect fails to obey a lawful order (order to vacate the vehicle) or resists (either passively or actively) then the use of necessary, and only necessary force, is allowed to compel compliance. So, to recap, verbal commands/challenges fail, suspect resisting, force is escalated to the next step, suspect gets tasered (believe me when i say tasing as opposed to mace is doing you a favor).
According to the FBI, 1/3 of all police injuries occur during traffic stops. You dont know who youre pulling over. You may be pulling someone over for running a stop sign, not knowing he just killed his wife an is hiding a gun under his seat. He has a right to be cautious and to be safe.
Most people who make comments do not understand what it is like being there. They have never pulled someone over, or seen their colleagues hurt or killed. They dont have the training or the understanding of the law and of departmental policies. No one ever cares for officer safety, because “its our job.” Oh, and whoever implied that pepper spray isnt bad, you obviously never have been maced… when you cant see and youre face is on fire, how are you going to defend yourself against strikes? or if they try to take your gun? Please, keep an open mind.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:20 pm #Bobio
It’s amazingly easy to generalize after seeing only a portion ( or, at least, the portion we want to see ) of the McNevin’s dash cam video. First, she opens the door immediately after stopping. I don’t care who you are, or how sane that looks to law abiding people as an innocent gesture of direct communication; to an officer who deals with life and deat situations on a daily basis, it’s an immediate reason to be or uncomfortable from the get go. He remained calm and and asked her to close the door ( with a please ). When he told her that he puuled her over for speeding, she replied “but you were driving”. What kind of water head comment was that? Did her grandmother tell her some tidbit of technical information that it police radar is unable to tell ones speed while their driving? She was obviously in the clear from that law that she felt able to break due to some bit of knowledge that even the local law was unaware of. She refused to close her and told him that she doesn’t have to. If an officer is concerned for his safety and the safety of those around him he has the right to make sure that the situation is in his control. Remember, kiddos, it’s law enforcement. And for those of you idiots who are going to remind me that she was unarmed and a threat to no one, it’s called , ” after the fact”, ” armchair quarterbacking”, ” hindsight”….ect. ect. He had no idea what the situation was in the car.
How, many of you out there have seen the man beat the dogshit out a female officer while his daughter was in the car with him? How about the countless times that people have driven off ( or driven over people ) to escape. When you idiots see those videos, there is no outrage as to what can happen to the officers then. Its, ” Society is to blame” or “it’s part of the job” or “let’s get 5-O” and much, much more. An officers job is to make sure that there is no threat and clouding the situation with stupid ( any please attempt to explain how she was anything but ) comments about what an officers can and cannot enforce doesn’t help. He is an enforcement officer, dipshits. That Gestapo BS that what shit out of someone’s computer earlier is way off base. I agree with others who said that they should not blindly trust anyone pulling you over for fear of ones posing as cops. That comment is also meant to warn those not BREAKING THE LAW.
Gestapo comparisons is usually ( I stress that word, otherwise a blanket statement would put me in dipshit category ) made by people with something to hide. I say, check my car, give me a field test, double check that guy for a suicide bomb vest…..ect.ect. All she had to do was follow directions. If she really needed to make that phone call, she could have been doing that instead of asking him over and over and over question while he is trying to do his job and call in the tags ( that tidbit of info is important, you see ). There are things that you can do to take yourself and the officer out of harm’s way ( real and perceived ). She did everything wrong and none of you saw that she struck at the other officer when he tried to get her out of the car. Be smart and nothing will happen to you or the officer. All of this from a law abiding male Hispanic who is not in law enforcement, just smart enough to know that not all of them are honest or true to their badges, but neither are all of the people they pull over. Obey the laws and carry one’s self with a little lost humility and you’ll do fine in this world. Maybe then, Karmakaze, the world will be a slightly better place…………Ass.
August 11th, 2008 at 7:55 pm #883XL
She was 1) driving with a suspended license 2) Had no insurance 3) Gave a whole bunch of attitude 4) was speeding ( 51 in a 35) 5) Ignored McNevin’s MULTIPLE warnings that he would tase her if she didn’t get out of the car.
I love how you people argue that McNevin was wrong in endangering her life as if she’s justified to endanger others. ( speeding, no insurance, no license)
Watch the whole video and you’ll see that McNevin takes out his handcuffs FIRST and only pulls out the taser after she resists being cuffed.
ON top of that McNevin gave her MULTIPLE warnings that he would tase her if she didn’t cooperate. Some of you guys are better off making the assumption that she wanted to get tased.
August 21st, 2008 at 9:35 pm #Wayne R Master, Sr.
If you listen to the start of the video, you hear her call the officer a racist - just for pulling her over. It is with that attitude that she decides to stay in the car, and not do as she is asked. Then, she is on the phone, telling whoever she is on the phone with to come to her aid, and refuses to hang up. Are any of you familiar with the crime and gang problems in Boynton Beach? If you had the slightest clue, you might understand why the officers were anxious to get the situation under control and out of there. If this dumb bitch just hangs up the phone and produces a dl, she gets a ticket and is on her way, but much like wayne masters jr, the very scary Mark, they insist on special treatment and anything beyond what they deem acceptable, is racist behavior.
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:34 am #Monofrio
Firstly, let me say that I know Officer Mcnevin on a personal level from workin with him for a year. I was not an Officer but a Community Service Office in the traffic unit. He is a very professional guy and iin no way is he a racist (I am hispanic) so I should know.
Secondly, I would like for eveyone out there to say a prayer for Officer Mcnevins and his family. About 5 days back he was invloved in a car chance and upon pursuing the suspect on foot they exchanged gun fire and was struck once in the stomach. Thankfully his vest saved his life.
Finally, I personally saw the entire footage in a class taught by Mcnevin himself and its defenetly a lot more clear than what is out there on the net. This lady was noncomplient with every command given to to her. The proper amount of non leathal force was used to gain complience. Another important fact that you all may not be away is (as another comment stated) as the other officer went to grab her she had a pen in her hand and she attempted to stab the officer. If this is not justifiable I would hate I would hate to wait and see what is.
Its understandable for humans to have compasion when not invloved in these situations themselves. Lets look at the bright picture people, SHE BROKE THE LAW OR LAWS AT THAT!!
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:43 am #Monofrio
Lets take a moment and pray for this Officer. A few days ago he was invloved in a chase and a foot persuit that ended in an exchange of gunfire, in which Officer Mcnevin was struck once in the stomach. The vest saved his life and he will pull through.
This is the type of Officer you are talking about. I worked with this Officer for a year and he was one of the most respecteble Officers in the department.
This lady broke the law and I as I watched the video in its entirely the more I see how justified he was in user the tasor to gain complience. What most of you dont see or hear in the video is that she had a pen in her right hand which she used to try and stab the Officer who tried to restrain her from the other side.
She broke many laws and was going to be arrested, she resisted and proper amount of force was used to gain complience.