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Community Questions Why APD Officer Used Deadly ForcePolice officer shoots and kills 26-year-old Shane TasiRelated Content
ANCHORAGE - The fatal police shooting of a Mountain View man is raising questions across the city. KTVA spoke with community members who are wondering why police used lethal force to subdue a man whose only weapon was a large stick. 26-year-old Shane Tasi was killed by an Anchorage police officer in his own front yard. That spot is quickly filling with flowers from friends who question why the father of three had to die. “That was just excessive force,” said Joey Moore, a family friend. “It's ridiculous, now there's these orphans and family just not understanding why.” Laura Martin watched from across the street. “He friggin' shot the guy on the chest,” said Martin. “He should have got [him] on the arm, or the leg, or take out the mace or the taser, anything but that.” But police say that isn’t the protocol if an officer feels his life is being threatened. “If you have shoot, it's a deadly force situation,” said Lieutenant Dave Parker. “So they don't train us to shoot feet or hands, that's all TV stuff too. It's hard enough to hit a large target let alone a smaller target like a hand, or a foot or something like that.” Police say this particular officer didn't have a taser, although they would like to equip more officers with the non-lethal weapons. According to court records, Tasi had several DUI’s on his record, but no history of violent crimes. |
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Duwayne Ledoux said on Monday, Jun 11 at 9:01 PM
who cares what your protocal is..your a fricken murderer..
93474616Ivan Ricnk said on Monday, Jun 11 at 9:41 PM
I say Good for the cop. If the man was not cooperating and had a threatenng demeanor....than what could you expect. this is why you should respect poliece.
93475596Anonymous said on Monday, Jun 11 at 9:46 PM
"APD said there will be a full investigation of what happened and whether the officer was justified in using deadly force." If its APD thats doing the investigation the nothing will happen. It will get swept under the quietly forgotten about (by them).
93475824APDSCSANNER.CABANOVA.COM said on Monday, Jun 11 at 9:53 PM
I am very sorry this person was killed, I am sure the officer also wishes things went diffently. This will be a difficult case to judge, but the officer fealt for his safety and did wht he fealt he had to do to protect himself. Let a crazed man get to your gun and your dead for sure, it isnt just about the stick.
93475986ET said on Monday, Jun 11 at 9:58 PM
This is interesting. In June 2009, Anchorage Police Officer Shaun Henry shot a 17 year old Samoan named Elvis Tuata, who was allegedly aiming a BB gun at something. Here's the interesting part. Officer Henry was then named Anchorage Police Department "Officer of the Year" for 2009. They said he "routinely sets the example for others to emulate."
93476336ET said on Monday, Jun 11 at 9:59 PM
It will be interesting to see what's in the background of the cop who shot the Samoan guy in Mountain View on Saturday. Remember several years ago that 17 year old Samoan kid with a BB Gun who was shot by Anchorage Police Officer Shaun Henry? I did a brief internet search and it appears that Officer Henry was a San Diego cop before he came to Anchorage. In San Diego he evidently shot a Rufus Kent Bracy on 8/7/2000. Officer Henry was also one of several officers involved in the fatal shooting of Santino Juarez in San Diego. That appears to be in about 2006. Then, of course, Officer Henry shot Elvis Tuata in Anchorage in June 2009. This was the subject of a civil suit which found the shooting was justified. Evidently Mr. Henry lists his profession as "Urban Trash Collector" in the social networking pages.
93476356ET said on Monday, Jun 11 at 10:01 PM
It will be interesting to backtrack the history of the Anchorage Police Officer who shot Mr. Tasi in Mountain View on Saturday. Of course, if the cop has a questionable history, I'm guessing that the court probably would not allow that to be used as evidence in a civil trial. Cops and the courts work for the same employers (Municipality of Anchorage, State of Alaska). It's still interesting though.
93476376cooljulie said on Monday, Jun 11 at 10:45 PM
There is a concept called 'personal space'. When someone invades your personal space against your direct objection, you have the right to assume they mean to harm you, and protect yourself. A martial arts student needs no leathal weapon but their hands/feet. A sturdy stick can easily kill. I wasn't there, I don't know the dynamics of the confrontation. But if someone unknown to me (and by that I also imply not knowing their state of mind, possible influence of drugs, etc) is threatening me, and advancing toward me, they are at the point of entering my personal space, and will meet my .357 which may well kill them. Remember the deranged guy who stole the little girl's bike? It just not always possible to know someone's intent when they are acting irrationally.
93477293Shawn Klemmer jr. said on Monday, Jun 11 at 10:59 PM
Not trained to shoot to wound or incapacitate, or anything else ! Just kill ?? wtf
93477666Anonymous said on Monday, Jun 11 at 11:05 PM
give me a break - wrap him in a blanket and send him to API...this was a dumbazz attack with that poor cop and don't worry - he has to live with what he did...so hey...but in the future copperu's carry a blanket...no harm no foul...then unroll & process!
93477756ab1 said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 4:49 AM
the cop says stop drop the weapon you do it or your commiting suicide
93489206cooljulie said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 5:54 AM
Shawn- That's correct. Beyond tasering,cops are trained only to shoot to kill. Once they pull their weapon, that is the protocol. WAY too complicated to train for multiple choices, and fairly useless. As the cop interviewed stated, hard enough to accurtely hit a large target with a pistol. If you could bring in snipers, etc, then sure, but that's rarely the case.
93495126Wyzguy said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 6:31 AM
So Sad what has become of this. Next time I go hiking Iam NOT carrying a walkin Stick.. Would Hate to be killed and taken from my Family. So Warring to all you stick Carring peepz out there Drop it or we will Shoot. Unreal!!!!
93498566Mark said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 7:53 AM
A large disturbed man attacking you with large stick is a deadly force situation. If he had hit the cop, the cop might have died.
93505456Daily Bible Quotes - May 23 said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 8:35 AM
thou shalt not kill
93508744mer said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 8:36 AM
hmmmm..now what if the young man was white? ...
93508884Slick said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 8:37 AM
Since when is DUI not a violent crime? Try telling that to the families of the average 14,000 people killed by drunk drivers each year.
93508976c said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 8:54 AM
Really "Slick"? Thats what you processed from this article? FYI, DUI isnt a violent crime. If someone is injured or killed because you are intoxicated there are additional crimes which are violent.
93510605Steve said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 9:17 AM
The need for non lethal tactics are definitely needed. Tasers would have been the best option if it were available. Chalk it up to experience.
93513136Jon said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 9:18 AM
I don't agree with such force, surly a few officers could have man handled the man. On the other hand I have no patience for animal abusers! I do feel sorry for the kids and wife.
93513205David said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 9:28 AM
Police officers have a tough job; however, I feel sad for the family. We should teach our police to use lethal force as a last option. Everyone loses when children have lost their father.
93514145GeorgeC said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 9:38 AM
Just wonder what many detractors here would do if someone was coming at them with a large stick (could have been a tree limb for all we know). Cop tells you to stop and drop weapon, you comply. Period. Anything else is idiotic and suicidal. Cop just wanted to control situation and talk but the guy wouldn't let him. Need more Dirty Harry and less Barney Fifes.
93515256BobD said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 10:19 AM
He used deadly force because " sticks & stones may break my bones " !
93518855Celia Harrison said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 11:37 AM
Were there not several officers at the scene when the shooting happened? It seems strange that not one of them had a taser. Even if they did not they could have distracted the man and restrained him as a group effort and if the officer was alone yell for people to go into their homes and stay away from him until backup come. Police often use devices that make an explosion noise to distract people so they can disarm them and get them arrested. I remember reading about a teenager with a sword and a man with a hatchet where distraction was used to get their weapons from them. I have noted that the original "stick" is now a "large stick".
93525536alliyah 2421 said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 11:48 AM
This is ridiculous!!"A stick like a size of a broom handle"....Why didn't the police officer grab his baton? Don't tell me he didn't have that on him either! This is all a cover up story for the police oficer who shot "SHANE TASI". Police officers thinks they the only one who knows the LAW, PLEASE...SAMOANS are not stupid....TRUE this is not only about the stick...the Officer is a rascist!! That's all I could think of
93526265reality said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 9:27 PM
So many 'monday morning quarterbacks' here! Look, the guy was a menace, and he was obviously not a model citizen, with more than one DUI at age 26. Yes the kids lost a father, but exactly what sort of father would this sort of person BE? What shining example was he setting for these kids? Not saying they are better off without him, but sometimes that is exactly the case. We could have spent hundreds of thousands on court costs, public defenders, jail time. And he would have eventually been right back in the same circumstance, statistically speaking. I'm also not saying he deserved the death penalty, but as someone commented on the ADN blog- people who play stupid games win stupid prizes.
93562976Big Dan said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 10:13 PM
When I went to the police academy way back when we were instructed that is is always better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6, and that dead men tell no tales. If you feel if your life is in danger, shoot center mass. Double tap and toe tag!
93564294publikinpho said on Tuesday, Jun 12 at 11:00 PM
Our elected legislative members put into law (AS-11.81.335) which basically says "Justification: Use of DEADLY FORCE in Defense of Self". 1. Police Department notified that person "screaming" at passing motorist carrying a "stick". 2. Hello ...it's Mt. View!!!!!! 3. A "stick" used properly no matter the size can do very serious bodily damage or even death if applied while under spikes of adrenaline! My sympathy for the family.
93565445Sean "The Bees Knees" said on Thursday, Jun 14 at 2:38 PM
I get it, the guy was a problem. In fact he was probably a serious problem in the community. That being said the officer involved has some of the best training money can buy in America. The problem in this case, as in many of the shooting incidents (not all) involving police officers, is they use their weapon as an extension of their arm. Think of it like an 18 year old shooting up a party after he gets kicked out. Instead of either reevaluating the situation or calling the host out to a fist fight (I am a culprit to that) he grabs his dad's gun and shoots up the place. He thinks that because he has a gun, he is in control, he has the power. Officers in a different perspective have this very same mentality. "I have a gun, I have a badge, I'm in control". This is not the last time a cop will betoo quick to the trigger to end a situation. Quick fixes: Only hire college educated applicants and/or Remove all firearms from the beatcops on the streets. The UK does it and they seem fine.
93699206jb said on Friday, Jun 15 at 2:23 PM
this only one problem, probobly one of the worst there was woman in assisted living in jail,with an exparte on file to API released to another home, who jumped from a moving car and died.does no one check this information? the list goes on INCLUDING EXCESSIVE 911 CALLS for homes dealing with mostly mental health residents. there seems toi be not much interest in this. we are trying to protect our residents as well as the public. unmedicated residents can pose a problem. this not merely a behavior problem. mental illness ia real diease.then there was the man realesed from pepper after a couple hours and shotly after commited suicide. there are many more cases.
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