As promised yesterday, here is the text of a letter I sent to Santorum asking for his help in fighting a secret taser use policy in his former home town. There are a few formatting differences but the content is the same. He still has not replied.
On another note, I want to relay my experience when I met Santorum on election day back in 1992. We had about a 5 minute conversation outside the my voting Poll. I don't remember most of the conversation but something I remember vividly was his promise to not make politics a long term job. I remember him looking into my eyes and telling me that he would not stay for long in Washington. I guess it depends on what the meanings of the words "stay" and "long" are.
Dear Senator Santorum,
On July 21, 2005 the brutal and inappropriate use of a stun gun on an small, unarmed senior citizen resulted in an uproar in the community of Mt. Lebanon, PA. As a result of the subsequent stone-walling by the municipality, this uproar continues to grow. I am writing to enlist the help of your good office to make sure that a similar abuse of basic human rights does not repeat itself. The victim suffered serious cardiac disturbances. Though he and his wife (who was also threatened and abused) have received treatment for post traumatic stress disorder, they are still suffering terribly. Please help prevent a similar episode.
Here is a list of some of the disturbing positions held by various representatives of Mt. Lebanon:
- The chief of police publicly stated that the shock of a taser does not hurt.
- The municipal manager maintains the public has no right to know what the taser use policy is and that it will remain secret.
- The municipal manager, in responding to specific questions, stated that the taser use policy does not address the use of tasers on children one way or the other.
- The municipal manager further states that the taser use policy recommends against the use of tasers on senior citizens unless the officer or others are at risk of death or serious bodily injury. [This policy was violated during the July 21, 2005 incident involving a small, unarmed senior citizen.]
- The board of commissioners publicly refused to authorize a citizens review board on the taser use policy owing to a pending criminal matter related to the July 21, 2005 incident. [What possible bearing could a pending criminal matter have on empowering a citizens review board to examine the general taser use policy?]
These positions are frightening and dangerous. Taser International's own web site contains white papers that describe just how painful a taser shock is. Why would our police chief insist otherwise? Why should the taser use policy remain secret when it is clearly inadequate vis-a-vis its failure to specifically address the use of tasers on children
and when it is blatantly ignored as it was during the July 21, 2005 incident? These are just two problems evident among many. Does the empowerment of a citizens review board to examine the taser use policy seem so unreasonable under these circumstances?
A petition concerning this matter gathered over 500 signatures despite being removed from public display at the request of the local magistrate. People are angry and they are frightened. Here are some links that might help you understand the facts as well as the depth of anger in the community:
Tribune Review Column, letter from a police officer, open letter, petition signatures, mlcop.com advocacy site
There are many details about this incident which only add to the anger and fear in the community and I won't document them all here. But please understand that there is a lot more to this matter, including police abuse, racial overtones, revenge, excessive force and wanton disregard for citizens who want to improve their community.
Please contact the following individuals and apply whatever influence you have to aid in our request for the empowerment of a citizens review board:
Please let me know how you feel about this entire matter. Feel free to contact me by email or by phone at 412 260-7381. Your reputation for fairness and support for the rights of citizens gives me hope that you will lend the weight of your office in helping the citizens of Mt. Lebanon end counterproductive secrecy and regain control over the policies of our local government.
Sincerely,
Rob Whitfield