This is a Cop. He controls black people.

Checking statistics, I looked at:

Portland Force Report Pg 26.

San Jose Year End Report Pg 43

New York City Allegations Statistics Appendices Pg 3

Generally, it looks like correcting for crime rate in a city, taser use is on the rise, with percentages of use varying quite a bit. In Portland, for example, it was the only form of force to stay relatively level in numbers, while arrest calls overall declined (23% of force use). In New York, the trend was less pronounced (falls under non-lethal restraint devices), but it still rose at a faster pace than the overall crime rate, and showed statistically significant increase compared to all other forms of force use (1% of total force use). San Jose had such a small population, it was difficult to call their results significant, although taser use did rise faster once again (7% of total force use). These numbers are also schewed by what various departments consider "force", with some not counting handcuffs, or other forms of non-marking restraint.

From this thread on Officer.com, it sounds like there's about as much disagreement on the proper and reasonable application of taser use among cops as there is among non-cops. As well as some decent discussion of the pros/cons of requiring it among those who use it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

This isn't a problem exclusive to cops, and its also a rather large generalization. I've lived in a number of large towns where the cops are relatively nice folks, as long as you're cooperative and remain calm. I've also lived in towns where there are a lot of douchebags. As with most things, there's quite a bit of variance.

There are some who view everyone as shit, but I'd bet the large majority just view everyone as dangerous. Particularly drunk people hanging out in groups, as they've got face to save and embaressment to throw back in the officers face. There's also mob worry. I question the news interpretation of the top article, as everyone's going to tell their story as if they were the eye of calm in the storm, even if they were belligerent and seeing two of every cop. Naturally, the cops were probably also jumpy and overreacted. Sounds a lot like the Gates arrest mess in Cambridge.

On the by the book mentality, of course they're going to value their job over going the extra mile to help. By the book helps avoid lawsuits, paperwork, reprimands, and bullshit reorientation seminars. In the case of calling for backup, it's also a good precaution for the officer. Sure, its kind of dumb when you've got two squad cars giving one dude in a Geo Metro a ticket, but there's also a mentality where they consider every one of those guys could be out of his gourd.

A number of professions have also succumbed to the problem of weighing their employment vs going the extra mile. Doctors are a prime example where many's lives have become a game of balancing malpractice, school debt, and employment vs helping the sick.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by RacinReaver

Are there any statistics on tasers becoming more available to police officers?

I didn't find any good sources showing the rate of availability for tasers, compared to the rise in taser use, or for taser availability by itself. Admittedly, that's also not what I was looking for at the time.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.