Editorial: Tasers and funerals don't mix

Bad timing? There's an understatement.

The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office can't apologize enough to the family of Gladwyn Russ Jr. for disrupting the poor man's funeral to make an arrest - which ended with deputies "tasing" the suspect.

"Inexcusable" is perhaps a better way to describe the events of last Saturday.

At least Sheriff Sid Causey admits that. He's ordered five deputies, including his chief deputy, disciplined for what he termed a "miscommunication."

Both he and Chief Deputy Ed McMahon have pledged to prevent a similar situation in the future. That promise should include a thorough review of arrest policies and procedures. Disciplinary action - Causey wouldn't say what punishment was meted out, but McMahon was at work Wednesday - is a good start. A few lessons in diplomacy wouldn't hurt, either.

There is no doubt that deputies have a difficult job. Sometimes they must make arrests at inconvenient times and places. But it's heartless to intrude on a grieving family as they prepare to bury a loved one.

Causey realizes that, which may be progress. He is, after all, the same sheriff who initially said no procedural changes were necessary after the death of Peyton Strickland - who was shot through a closed door after an allegedly well-trained deputy mistook the sound of a battering ram for gunfire. (Apparently, though, some changes now may be in the works.)

The deputies who arrested Gladwyn Russ III on Saturday didn't set out to cause a ruckus, of course. Russ was accused of threatening to kill his estranged wife, who lives in another state. That's a serious charge that demands serious response from law enforcement. He'd already barricaded himself into his home and then reneged on a promise to turn himself in.

Naturally, they didn't believe him when he said he'd surrender himself after his father's funeral. But as onlookers tell it, the deputies chose to arrest the younger Russ as he was helping to place his father's casket into the hearse.

Far from blameless in this incident, Russ went berserk, spit on the deputies and resisted arrest. Suffice it to say that things went downhill from there.

It's hard to fault the rest of the grieving family for reacting emotionally and harshly to such an intrusion. The arrest could have waited a few moments longer.

In their zeal to make the arrest, deputies deprived the Russ family a last chance to make peace with the death of a man they loved. Instead, they are left with harrowing memories of the day they buried their husband, father, grandfather.

Causey was very apologetic Wednesday for his deputies' egregious behavior. He can further show his concern by insisting on clear guidelines - and adequate training - to prevent a repeat performance.