Do you know who these two officers are? Do you know their education history? Their training background? Do you know what specific things they were taught in Academy? Do you know the curriculum they were taught regarding the use-of-force continuum or in Taser training? Have you discussed with them why they discharged their weapons? Have you asked them what they were thinking? Have you spoken to one person or looked at one piece of paper, aside from a news story, to determine what happened here?
If not, then you are just as ignorant as everyone else; owning land in the next county doesn't mean squat. And your impugning of these officers is as disgusting as Kerry's statement.
There is nothing in the article which suggests that these officers were ill educated, nor does it attempt to give a full and complete explanation for the events of in question. Indeed, the story and the headline are designed to sensationalize the story and push the buttons of Christian paranoiacs and knee-jerk anti-authoritarians, not to give anyone sufficient information to determine whether the use of force was justified.
5'7 and 130 pounds, carrying a bible and cordless phone. Yeah, hit him twice with the stun gun.... as the police approach HIM. Nope, no way the police were going to be "embarrased" by a little kid. We'll show him we have the control.
"SNIP UPDATE"
Holyfield, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 130 pounds, carried a Bible and a cordless house phone. He was described by a friend as a committed Baptist who never got into a scrap. But when police approached him, he struggled. They shot the teen twice with a Taser, according to the Jerseyville Police Department
Cause of death - excited or agitated delirium.
But some wonder if a diagnosis of excited delirium is just a way to cover up police brutality. Some doctors question whether the diagnosis is overused, and civil rights groups that oppose Taser guns say the condition doesn't exist at all.
In fact, the most commonly used psychiatric reference book doesn't even include a diagnosis called "excited delirium."