[PapaBear3625]

I could not count the number of times a spaced-out offender fought while resisting arrest. Police carried wooden batons and later the PR-24 side handle baton. When trying to subdue on unruly person, sometimes we had to resort to the use of the baton.

That ended shortly after Rodney King. With widespread video recording capabilities, police did NOT want to be recorded smacking an "unarmed" suspect with enough force to subdue. The baton gave way to the taser.

Since the taser does not always work, the raser has given way to the gun. Police depts are more willing to deal with the bad PR of a shooting, than deal with a police officer's disability claims.

[Pirate Ragnar]

They tasered Rodney King. He pulled out the barbs and charged an officer. The officers were using their batons to try and achieve compliance rather than deadly force.