Johannes Mehserle’s “I thought I was reaching for my Taser” argument is ridiculous.  By all accounts, BART Police (like most other police departments) require cops to carry Tasers on the opposite side of their pistols — that way they have to cross-draw the Taser across their bodies before deploying it, making it a distinct physical experience from drawing the gun.  In other words, pulling something out from your left side with your right hand is way different than pulling out something from the right side of your body with your left hand — through “muscle memory” you’ll associate one motion with your Taser and you’ll associate the other motion with your gun…in theory anyway.

The video clearly shows  that Mehserle does not cross-draw.   Grant family attorney John Burris tells the Oakland Tribune:

“They keep those Tasers on the opposite side of their gun hand, or in the middle, pointed the opposite direction so you have to turn your hand to get it,” Burris said. “No movement (on the videos) suggests (the officer) was reaching for anything other than the location where the gun was.”

Here’s an example of police Taser policy — a General Order from the University of California Police:

To Ensure that the Taser is accessible by keeping it concealed in a secured vehicle during the course of a shift or carrying the device on the officer’s person. Taser holsters shall be worn only on the opposite side of the officer’s handgun.

And here’s what one cop (well, he sounds like a cop)  had to say in the officer.com forum, this is part of a larger thread about Taser holsters — posted back in 2006:

The Taser should also be worn opposite of your pistol (wearing it in drop leg on the same side is really dangerous!). As far as whether the Taser should be worn cross draw or straight draw, that should be preference. My preference would be straight draw on my off side, but policy doesnt allow for it. We are required to wear them cross draw, this works for me, but I’ve trained with it in that method and know my options for getting it out and into use quickly.

Also, Sam Spade’s San Francisco blog dug up a a lesson plan from a police training curriculum about the perils of holstering a Taser next to your firearm.   We’re not gonna re-post it, because it’s so good — you really should read the whole thing.    [Sam Spade's San Francisco Blog]

Oh and if you’re looking to become a BART Cop, you can apply for the job here.  Good luck living in the Bay Area on $3960.40  a month (that’s BEFORE payroll taxes and all that crap are deducted).   Geez — it makes you wonder…