Taser deployed to save Prison officer

**Standard Dave** · 05-09-06, 01:20 PM

Stun-gun used in hospital siege

A Taser stun-gun has been used by police to disarm a female prisoner who held a pair of scissors to the throat of a prison officer.
Pcs David Morgan and Claire Reed were called to Durham University Hospital early on Tuesday morning.

The 22-year-old inmate from Low Newton Prison was being treated for wounds to her thigh and groin, thought to have been self inflicted.

She was immobilised and later returned to the prison, Durham Police said.

'Dangerous situations'

Police chiefs have praised the actions of the armed officers.

A spokesman said the prisoner became agitated in the hospital's accident and emergency unit.

She suddenly grabbed the female prison officer, to whom she was handcuffed, and demanded drugs.

Pc Morgan, 35, asked hospital staff to supply him with some tablets, which were aspirin, and as the prisoner reached for them, officers fired the stun-guns.

Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks praised the officers, adding that it highlighted the dangerous and difficult situations faced by firearms officers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/4753733.stm

Yes the situation was dangerous for the firearms officers, Not quite as dangerous as for the Prison officer one feels

**jfrohne** · 05-09-06, 02:57 PM

Does anyone know of any grants for tasers? Not too sure where to look exactly. We would love to have them though for our small department with all the drunks we deal with.

**BigBossMan** · 05-09-06, 03:16 PM

I sure wish we had those were I work. The Government won't even look into weather or not they would be something useful for us.

**refusetostop** · 05-09-06, 03:34 PM

We had them for a short period of time. Then all the bad press in Ga. knocked them out of the water. Easy come easy go.

**jmur5074** · 05-09-06, 04:25 PM

Why was the prison officer handcuffed to the inmate????

What state did this happen in?

**Ducky** · 05-09-06, 04:27 PM

Offhand, I'd say it happened somewhere in the UK.

FishTail · 05-09-06, 06:09 PM

County Durham, UK.

Prisoners being escorted are routinely handcuffed to prison officers here. But we're told not to do it with out arrestees. Odd.

**lesta311** · 05-09-06, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by LongTail

County Durham, UK.

Ok, I actually re read this article wondering why I didn't hear of this incident or why I didn't recognize any of the people involved.

**lcsodre108** · 05-09-06, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by jfrohne

Does anyone know of any grants for tasers? Not too sure where to look exactly. We would love to have them though for our small department with all the drunks we deal with.

Check with Taser we are working with them to get a grant for ours.

**pbrown118** · 05-09-06, 09:06 PM

our small dept doesnt have them either... Our "civilian" management wont foot the bill for them... oh well we will just have to wait til we come across a call where we have to mace someone on an airplane and knock the airplane out of commission. we will be sued from the rest of the passengers who were affected, maybe then we can get tasers...

**Standard Dave** · 05-10-06, 06:05 AM

Originally Posted by pbrown118

our small dept doesnt have them either... Our "civilian" management wont foot the bill for them... oh well we will just have to wait til we come across a call where we have to mace someone on an airplane and knock the airplane out of commission. we will be sued from the rest of the passengers who were affected, maybe then we can get tasers...

Or you end up shooting someone dead who could have been tased.

I have no idea why our court security and Prison officers handcuff prisoners to themselves, as Longtail said the Police don't partly I believe because we carry rigid cuffs which you can't cuff two people with or cuff people to objects due to the very high risk of injury.