Excellent article pointing out the very real failure of this officer to make sound judgement decisions. One thing the article didn't mention is how poorly the officer handled the situation with Mr. Massey's wife. She comes around the back of the vehicle thinking her husband has been shot. There is blood on the ground from him splitting open his head due to the fall. The officer doesn't explain anything, just orders her back in the car. This guy is just a huge jerk. What is her recourse? Does she call 911 believing her husband has been assulted by a rouge officer? Ultimately the officer works for me and you. We pay his wages. I do not want this type of protection. My colleagues outside Utah do not want to visit with nuts like this patrolling our highways. We need more control over how our tax dollars are spent. I support paying for police protection, but we have bigger crime, drug, and gang issues for them to address than targeting law abiding citizens (who pay their salary).

Elder J. Golden Pittakos wrote:

And then, there are those who fear that their own shadow is watching them and that the boogey-man is hiding behind every tree to the point that they are ready to forfeit the ultimate right of life, itself.
All cops are evil.
Walking through the metal detector at the airport is a plot to get me.
Somebody is listening to my phone call right now.
Whaddya mean I have to show you my i.d. to get this job? I never carry one.
and on and on goes the paranoia.


A person is not paranoid, if there are those really out to get him.

Fortunately, most of us know that no one is out to get us.

Elder J. Golden Pittakos wrote:

Fortunately, most of us know that no one is out to get us.


are you sure


"LOL" "LOL" "LOL"

While I agree that the Trooper in question may have overreacted I do not agree with your complete assessment. For example, Mr. Massey didn't look threatening - when did the young men who shot up Trolley Square or the mall in Omaha begin to look threatening, why didn't people run as soon as they saw them. Sitting in your chair at your computer it is very easy to label any action as non-threatening, maybe it's not so easy on the streets.
Second, comparing this Trooper with the CHP Trooper who raped and murdered female motorists is almost as ridiculous as calling the Daily Herald a real newspaper. It doesn't fit no matter how you spin it.
And finally, if either party, Mr. Massey, who has been incredibly compassionate in this case, and the trooper had checked their egos and just took it to the judge as it were we wouldn't be talking about this and you, the Daily Herald could go back to extolling the virtues of Referendum 1. You didn't do anyone, the public, Mr. Massey, or the Trooper any favors here. The real crime is impersonating a newspaper.

The Daily Herald is the worst excuse for a newspaper, ever. Trooper Gardner was well within his rights to use the taser on the Idiot Massey. Gardner had two people coming at him at the same time, on a road well known as a drug pipeline through Utah. Drug mules are well known to have their "families" with them and drive SUV's. I am a retired officer and I would have done the same thing. As for the guy would said his son his an officer and he would be upset with his son for doing the same thing. I hope you remember this at your son's funeral.