Protect and serve, not shock and awe, in Vermont

September 8, 2007
John Curran, AP

Brattleboro, Vermont has been in the spotlight lately. Police in Brattleboro were the first in Vermont to acquire tasers. They got the first three in 2002 and today they have eight. The population is less than 12,000.

Today's article describes how and when Brattleboro police have used tasers. This story even made the Boston Globe.

On Thursday, it was reported that the town has decided to conduct its own review of the use of tasers on a pair of nonviolent protestors on July 24th instead of waiting for the attorney general's office to finish a statewide review of police use of force policies - Town hires judge to do Taser review

Recently, Brattleboro suspended the use of tasers only to quickly redeploy them. This is a town at the crossroads, one that is in an excellent position to stop the insanity. However, it will take some energy and a little cranium grease on the part of the 50 people who turned out recently, carrying "Protect and serve, not shock and awe" signs and marching through downtown. To gather strength in numbers, these people will have to continue to walk the walk and talk the talk, to enlighten the government of Brattleboro and the public at large.