The AP reported on a police chief in a small Texas town whose actions have now raised questions about how he got his job in the first place. Oakwood Police Chief Oly Ivy was arrested on Monday for allegedly using a taser on his wife (some reports have instead described her as his live-in girlfriend, but that is sort of beside the point). He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and got fired the same night.
Laws on Tasers vary from state to state, sometimes at the local level as well, but people should be aware that they are considered deadly weapons in many states. For this reason, individuals who use Tasers without adequate justification risk serious legal consequences, even if they happen to be a police chief like Ivy.
On the other hand, that case was eventually dismissed, and Ivy didn’t have any record of being disciplined on the job (which was checked on). Ivy has now been ordered to undergo a psych exam as a condition to reducing his bond, which is currently set at $100,000. There are apparently conflicting opinions as to whether he constitutes a flight risk.
- AP: Top cop fired for allegedly using Taser on wife (FindLaw)
- KBTX: Oakwood Police Chief Previously Accused of Domestic Violence
- KBTX: Psychological Exam Ordered for Former Oakwood Police Chief
- Assault Overview (provided by Beresky & Fish, P.C. Attorneys)
- Taser Laws and Restrictions (taser.org)
- AP: Amnesty International: Death shows Taser’s risks (FindLaw)
- Criminal Law Center (FindLaw)
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