That's how to use a Taser

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/06/02/bc-vancouver-woman-taser.html

Another taser incident hits the news. Actually, I think the police did a fine job and this is just the sort of situation where a taser is useful. Distraught woman waving a big knife. I definitely wouldn't recommend approaching that. Way more threatening than a stapler.

The police. Well, seems they held their ground and showed great restraint. Actually, from the news account in the above link, I'd even say under difficult circumstances.

"while re-directing pedestrian traffic around.... ??

You have to tell people to steer clear of the distraught woman waving a big knife??

Difficult circumstances in a place where this is the case.

Mind you, based on the fact that someone in the crowd ran out, ignored police, and tried unsuccessfully to subdue the woman, which was what forced the police to taser her, I see the answer is yes, you do need to redirect people.

Yes, she was tasered. Fell because of it. Hit her head even. What do you want? Them to shoot her? Can you imagine what the headlines would have been if they had stood back, done nothing, and said person who ran from the crowd was fatally stabbed? Based on the fact that she was standing waving a big knife, I'd say hitting her head isn't the biggest problem for this lady at the present time. Obviously there's a lot more serious stuff in her life to worry about.

So again, I think this is a excellent example of when and how to use a taser.

Maybe someone should taser the person who ran from the crowd. Why? Well, apparently it's illegal to kick them in the ass.