Eugene Police Officer of the Year for Taser use on Protester

Eugene Police Officer of the Year for Taser use on Protester

Leo Rivers comments on
a Taser, a Protester, and the Officer of the Year
in Eugene Oregon 2009

In the Eugene Weekly Volume XVIII Number 16 and XVII Number 17 (April 23rd and 30th, 2009) we read about the Taser Trial of one protester, Ian Van Ornum and the Officer of the Year Award for the Officer, for EPD Sgt.Judd Warden for tasering him.

Issues of the core of Police Identity and disproportion in response as well as a mindset of Us verses Them on all sides makes this a signal with dark portent for the social-fabric of the United States.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Police
• taser
• protester
• Eugene
• Oregon
• 2009

[leo81316]

The "Police" of all societies have had 2 faces throughout history:

#1.) Law Enforcement - Public Order

#2.) Enforcement of the Values of the Ruling Elite & Display of "Social Disapproval" - adhoc judge, jury & executioner of self perceived Justice

The US has seen a parallel evolution of Professional Policing (GOOD!) & Frontier Justice and Para-Military behavior (BAD!)

My concern is with the use of dehumanizing technical tools like tasers & mace and rights suspension. I want a effective Police.

[leo81316]

There are 2 things I see wrong with what I said.

1st - Time limitation denied me the capacity to talk about responsible and coherent civil disobedience. What does that look like?

Second, the place of recognizing true valuable Police work is just as deep a loss to the dialogue as not discussing ethical civil disobedience,

It is true he would not get an award for just tasering a protester. But, I still believe that human response of "hooray for our guy and the way we do" is there ...

[acousticflowz]

stop complaining. they give they're lives so you can bitch.

[tonyt1076]

I mean "NOT!!!!!"

[tonyt1076]

I was once involved in an incident with the "Tazer Cop" when I was in high school.

He, Judd Warden, had me (a 16 yr old) come out and help arrest a suspected shoplifter.

He immediately rushed the suspect from behind without warning (a teenager stealing a pack of smokes) with me and ended up throwing us all onto the ground.

Next thing I know, he is spraying mace in my face (and his) and the suspect (who could have just ran off) stayed put.

He should be protecting THE PUBLIC! EXCESSIVE FORCE!

[thombanjo]

I saw the whole damned thing and if there was any resisting arrest by Van Ornum it was in response to the use of overwhelming force as a reflex to protect himself from injury.

[DarknessUnresolved]

And the filthy pig JUDD WARDEN also tasered an innocent Chinese student [also ov UO] inside his OWN dorm!!! Damn, filthy, cowardly PIGS!!!

[Mpd10206]

Taser him again. Stupid hippie protester.

[denvereddennis]

denvereddennis has shared a video with you on YouTube:

[yt1968a]

The officer who received this award did not recieve it for the taser incident. In fact, the decision to give him the award came from his long standing work with the community on community related issues. He worked hard with downtown business owners to address complaints they had about vandalism and other downtown issues. It had nothing whatsoever to do with the taser incident. It was just bad timing.  If he was deserving because of all the other things he did that year.

[jrbonham75]

Whenever the police call for donations, hang up!