Whitewash on Taser incident

The Utah Highway Patrol has, perhaps unsurprisingly, given Trooper Jon Gardner an "attaboy" for attacking motorist Jared Massey with a Taser during a traffic stop for speeding. As I've written before, Massey was Tasered because he challenged Gardner on the grounds for the ticket and declined to sign it; at no time did he pose a threat to the officer or anybody else. Only the sort of person who really adores living in a police state would claim that people have no right to argue with police officers.

Cops are good at closing ranks, even when the public rises up in mass revulsion at their actions. Gardner is reportedly on administrative leave because of the sheer volume of death threats his actions have elicited from the public at large. I suspect the criticism has played a role in UHP's defensive response. Government officials -- police in particular -- don't like having their judgment questioned by the public; by declaring Gardner's actions justified, UHP officials were able to issue a bureaucratically worded "fuck you" to the mere civilians who called them on the carpet.

The proper response of anybody driving through Utah is to treat any UHP officers who pull them over like dangerous animals. The creatures just might attack at any moment.

The Utah Highway Patrol can be reached here: (801)965-4518

or email here: http://highwaypatrol.utah.gov/contact_uhp.html