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An Evansville, Indiana firefighter was pulled off his bicycle, handcuffed and threatened with a stun gun for waving hello to police, reports say.

The fireman, George Madison, was riding his bike and, according to him, waved hello to a police cruiser as it passed him on the street. Instead of a friendly wave back, however, the cop pulled over, forced Madison off his bike and onto the ground, handcuffed the fireman, and threatened him with a tazer all because the officer claimed that Madison was giving him the finger.

Madison says that after he raised his hand the police car suddenly made a u-turn and stopped by him. “The officer jumped out and says, ‘What are you doing throwing your hands up at us?’” Madison said. He went on to explain what happened, saying, “He is talking to me as he is coming toward me. I tried to explain, but I couldn’t get a word in edgewise.” More at http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/08/22936-firefighter-violently-thre
atened-with-stun-gun-by-cop-for-waving-hello/]

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Madison 38, also is youth pastor at Memorial Baptist Church.

“I remember looking down the barrel of a Taser, because (the officer) was gritting his teeth and saying, ‘Don’t make me pull this trigger,’” Madison said Wednesday afternoon.

He said the officer’s angry attitude made him feel angry and alone.

“It was like everything had disappeared, and I was there alone and I got scared,” he said.

Madison said he knew Bolin from their community involvements and began to call him on his cellphone hoping to diffuse the situation.

However, the officer told him to put the phone down. Madison said that when he hesitated, the officer grabbed his arm holding the phone, causing Madison to flinch.

(Note: From police explanation: "Officers explained to Mr. Madison we dont know who he is trying to call and maybe he was calling buddies over to come to the stop." http://www.mrconservative.com/2013/08/22936-firefighter-violently-thre
atened-with-stun-gun-by-cop-for-waving-hello/)

Before he knew it, Madison said, the officer had his stun device out.

“It was literally maybe inches from my face,” he said. “I immediately threw my hands in the air. What he asked me to do I was more than willing to do. I said ‘Please don’t hurt me.’ The next thing I know I’m laying down the ground and they cuffed me.”

Madison said the officer asked him his name, date of birth and place of employment.

“Once they found out I was a fireman their attitude changed,” he said.

At that point the officers allowed him to come to his knees. He said the officer began trying to engage him in conversation, but Madison said he became wary of the conversation’s turn.

“At first I was talking to them. Then I said ‘I don’t have anything else to say to you,”’ he said. “Finally, they asked me if I had calmed down, and I kept telling them I was never out of sorts.”

“It is experiences like these that people hold onto,” Madison said. “I refuse to allow a bad experience that I have with one person or officer to change my perception. I just refuse to allow this experience to make me feel any different.”

But Madison said he also believes he can’t ignore what happened, and that the officers should be held accountable.

“I don’t want this man to lose his job or weeks of pay, but I have to look at it from the standpoint of I have a family to think about. I shouldn’t feel bad for standing up for my own rights,” he said. “The fact that I am a firefighter or preacher doesn’t make a difference. All anybody wants is to be treated like a human being.” http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/aug/14/police-herp/?print=1

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Originally posted by Niki2:
But Madison said he also believes he can’t ignore what happened, and that the officers should be held accountable.

“I don’t want this man to lose his job or weeks of pay, but I have to look at it from the standpoint of I have a family to think about. I shouldn’t feel bad for standing up for my own rights,” he said. “The fact that I am a firefighter or preacher doesn’t make a difference. All anybody wants is to be treated like a human being.”

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Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

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