What is really sad about this article and the city of Aspen. Simply pull taser reports from Denver metro area agencies. People have been tasered for far less, and even while they are cuffed. This author is an example of how pathetic our media outlets have become. Nothing is made by educated communities regarding tasers. God forbid your precious Aspen Officer tasered a noncompliant suspect. Oh and didn't your chief just get fired for sexual harassment. Hmmmmmmm, maybe there is more to the good ole boy system of Aspen, "where the beer flows like wine".

After working in law enforcement for two years I have to say that this situation is ridiculous. Melinda Calvano was in the right. This article neglects to mention that Alexy was several inches taller and over twenty pounds heavier than officer Calvano and that Alexy attacked the officer with a cane. Calvano did not have backup. Her decision was prudent for her protection and for the protection of the offender (a taser is a lot safer than a baton or a kick to the legs). That said, congratulations to Officer Melinda Calvano for being hired by a different city and continuing to serve as a police officer after this unfortunate experience. I hope she wins her law suite.

I read that this officer is suing the police department and that she was fired for retaliatioin on filing a former complaint regarding her safety. I am very interested to see the outcome of this. I know of other female who have had problems with the police department. Former employee Kim Hay, who called the department a boy's club. From what I have seen of the department, I am not all that impressed.

Poor poor Margaret, she doesn't understand english. SHe was ordered to do something by a police officer, perhaps we need to pay for her education so she could learn english and how to follow instructions. Lets give her some of that Aspen money too. In case you can't read through the lines you liberal readers, I am being sarcastic!

The city manager doesn't understand what police work is. He sits in an office and kisses up to people. I wish Melinda the best.

[...] er Taser Incident Last month I wrote about Aspen police officer Melinda Calvano who tasered a homeless woman in Aspen while she was sitting on the ground. The woman was suspected of stealing [...]

Guess what geniuses? Melinda Calvano was fired. Her actions were "beyond normal and beyond reasonable" in the words of the city manager. And what else? The police reports have now been published and it turns out Calvano is even more twisted than we even knew.

Poor poor Margaret too afraid to leave you last name...but has big words for someone she obviously has no clue who she she talking about. Calvano is a woman with 2 small girls who was doing Her job why would she need to executed for that who are you Margaret Sadaam Hussein? This is America here and Calvano did her job and I am so sick of you liberals who don`t let the police do their job. what are you doing to help the homeless? I will tell you nothing!!!! Get off your liberal ass and help people instead of critizing everyone else that goes for all you liberals.

As a person that has been raised around those who have worked in the law enforcment field my whole life, I would like to add the following comment. Let's put the shoe on the other foot. If for instance, Ms. Alexy had concealed a weapon and wounded Ms. Calvano, would the citizens have been just as outraged? My answer would be probably not. I find that society as a whole has its priorities completly mixed up. Where is the justice for our peace officers? They are never allowed comment or justification for their actions. It seems to me that our peace officers should be given the full support of their commanding officers, departments, and the public. I suggest next time one of you Aspenites wants help with any crime that is taking place, ask yourself if you want you and those you love protected or do you want a homeless criminal stealing from you. You may be surprised to find that you do have enough common sense to contact your local peace officer.

I don't understand why Margaret felt the need to cuss on this, that was very immature. I do, however, completely agree with Brent. I think that everyone who reads this should go to the Officer Down Memorial Page and read about those brave Men and Women who have been killed in the line of duty. Maybe that will give them all a better understanding of why we act and react the way we do. Our main goal is to go home at night, and we WILL do what it takes to accomplish that goal. Did the homeless woman have a weapon? I don't know. Did she listen to Calvano? No, she didn't. Did Calvano act in a manner in which she accomplished her goal of going home? Yes. I think that her use of force was completely appropriate. I also believe that if the justice system would work in favor of the good guys, as opposed to the bad guys, then this world would be in better shape. However, it looks as though a thief will not suffer any consequences because she's obviously a liar as well. I can't wait for the police report to come out, so we can see what actually happened, as opposed to believing the story of some thieving homeless woman, who lives in a tent on government land. Hey people, if you really want to help Alexy, then why don't you take her into your home and give her a job. Maybe you can even give her a sweater or a new tent. I don't see anyone doing that, it's far easier to second guess an honest, hard working police officer. And Ms. Merritt, thing only thing you've been right about is "this post has made its way around the law enforcement community which is sticking up for its own". You're absolutely right! You could never understand what its like to have a brotherhood such as ours. You could never understand the dangers we face, or the horrible things we face, or the fears we have felt. Most Law Enforcement have seen things you could never dream existed. Domestics, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse...The list goes on and on. My suggestion to you, is to spend a year doing ride-a-longs with various police departments around the country, or at least the state. Go and see the things they see, and then write an unbiased article. You may be able to have a hint of an understanding of what I'm talking about. Early on in this post, I mentioned the Officer Down Memorial Page. Do yourself a favor and go read about the Men and Women on it, then read the reflections people have written. The website is http://www.odmp.org. Thank you for your time in reading this. Nathan

I can only attempt to hold back my words and thoughts as I write this. To the public out there, we as peace keepers put our lives on the line everyday for you, the citizens. When you don’t need us, you look at us with disgust just for being visible. Oh, but as soon as that person in their bran new SUV pulls in front of you and cuts you off….who are you dialing on the phone just as fast as you can. That’s right, you know who. We as keepers of the peace have a job to do. We take an oath and promise to uphold the laws that have been deemed fit by people long before us. In this case, we have a very unique city, the City of Aspen. A very touchy-feely city; one that the general population would just as well not have any law enforcement in. Let’s look back for a moment at the drug raids that were carried out in Aspen within the last year. I am glad to see that Aspen Police Department participated in those raids, along with the excellent work and planning carried out by the DEA. After the raids were carried out without incident, the citizens of Aspen were in an uproar. I remember watching and hearing news highlights of citizens complaining about how dangerous it was for the police to come into the bars and restaurants with guns drawn. Hello people, this is how we do business. When we are conducting these raids, we do not carry them out with the thought that it could be dangerous and that we might need some sort of weapon. We plan and train ourselves that there will be guns and that the bad guys will do whatever it takes so as to not be taken into custody. We are talking about illegal drugs here, the kind that will get you a one way ticket to an 8’ by 8’ stainless steel room. Where there are drugs, there are usually guns. They go hand in hand. This is just a little background on some of the views citizens have on law enforcement practices in the city of Aspen. As for this incident, there are two sides to it. The press and media side and then the actual story, which will be detailed in a police report that I hope is made public. There are many untold facts from this incident yet. Questions that should come to mind as you read through what’s been written by the press so far are: What was the size of the suspect? What statements did she make to Officer Calvano? What was the lighting condition like in the location where the incident was taking place? What was Officer Calvano’s prior knowledge of the suspect, or the departments for that matter? What did Officer Calvano observe? Why did the suspect disregard lawful commands from a police officer? Where was Officer Calvano’s back up at? These, among other things, need to be clearly thought about. Every encounter an officer has with a suspect could escalate or de-escalate in a matter of seconds. This suspect’s age has nothing to do with it. I don’t care if she is an elderly female or a 10 year old boy, either of these people can pull a trigger just as fast. One local paper from Aspen reported that some statistics that came from Aspen Police Chief Ryerson. The way the article is written makes it sound like it’s a horrible thing when an officer pulls out a taser. Tasers are a wonderful less-lethal tool that we as peace officers now have access to. If you do something that requires an officer to pull his or her taser out, you should be thinking that you’re probably not going to be too far away from having a gun pointed at you as well if you don’t comply. Surprisingly, that same local newspaper did mention the fact that Officer Calvano, in 2004, deployed her taser into a suicidal party which prevented his attempt and saved his life. Funny how these things otherwise go unmentioned. As far as I am concerned, Officer Calvano acted within the scope of her powers and duty. There shouldn’t be an issue at all as to whether or not Officer Calvano will face any discipline from her department. But maybe you will see that better once the police report is made public.

.....and so patriarchy still prevails. That fucking Calvano should be executed. Bastard!

Obviously, this post has made its way around the law enforcement community which is sticking up for its own. What a surprise. As for Jim Weber's comment, everything I posted came from mainstream media news and Amnesty International reports. If you have a problem with their facts, take it up with them, but don't accuse me of making things up.

Actually, taser recovery only takes a few seconds, it's only a static shock people. High voltage, low ampage. I'm sure Ms. Alexy is fine, although she won't tell you that...and neither will the media. Besides, she's been homeless the last 30 years. Homeless in the mountains! Bears and other wildlife pose more of a threat than a taser. Not to mention the many bolts of lightening that strike the mountain throughout the year. I'm sure those would do a better number on her than the taser. This is ridiculous. People pay the police to take care of criminals. If Alexy was stealing, then she's a criminal. If Alexy wasn't heeding Calvano's commands, then she's a criminal, regardless of her age, Alexy was breaking the law and she faced the consequences. I think Aspen PD needs to reward officers like Calvano, rather than treat her like a criminal. GOOD WORK MELINDA!

This shows the complete disappearance of humanity. Tasering just for stealing a garment, is a cowardly action on Calvano's part. I wish Ms. Alexy recovers soon.

Well there you have it friends and neighbors. The article by your "reporter" Jeralyn Merritt is clear evidence of her graduation from the Dan Rather school of objective reporting. If the facts dont match what your opinion is then do the next best thing. Make them up. After all, it worked for Jayson Blair... at least for a while. The objective story by Ms. Merritt was obviously gleaned from her relentless searching of the files of the Aspen Newspapers and of the files of the Associated Press. Now there is a grand example of turning over every stone to find the truth of the matter. But if you look at the stories in the Aspen papers, what they reported isnt even close to the spin put on the story by Ms. Merritt. But journalists arent really in a search for the truth now are they? Just a scoop. It doesnt have to be right, just first.

I think that Calvano's actions were justified. When will people learn, LISTEN TO THE POLICE! Lets see, 70 deaths out of how many thousands of tazings? Also, Most Law Enforcement Officials have to be tazered prior to carrying said taser. None of them have died. I hope the police report gets published soon, so we can learn what actually happened from Calvano's standpoint, as opposed to listening to only one side. Once again, the media takes the lawbreakers side...why does that not surprise me.

Sadly, this is evidence that ignorance can reside everywhere. Officer Calvano's focus should be on "upholding the community." This type of behavior is inhumane and disgusting. I wish Ms. Alexy well.