To protect and serve...even from yourself.

Officers in hurricane-ravaged Fort Myers used a Taser gun on a man allegedly trying to get by a police barrier to get home, and it was caught on tape.
A crowd formed around the scene and voices can be heard yelling, "Leave him alone," "That is so wrong," and "Come on man, he's frustrated."
The man had three children in the car with him. Many in the crowd felt for the man who hasn't seen his home in days.
Many of the police officers are in the same situation.
It's not known exactly what led up to police using the Taser gun. You can take a look at the video to the right to see how things ended.

During times of extreme stress, people can default back to a core need of being secure. Nothing says secure like home. However, it is still too dangerous for some people to return home. Street signs are down, power is out, water is contaminated, and unfortunately, looting is taking place. Traffic is overburdening the area, causing more trouble with accidents and fatalities. The officers are just doing their job. Patience is something in short supply, and it can't be trucked in. However, that is the most precious commodity right now.

Edit: I listen to talk radio at work. Neal Boortz offers an opposing point of view concerning the ability for people to face danger on their own:

Yes, I understand that there are safety concerns. Fine. Tell the people that returning to their home might be dangerous, and then let them make an informed decision as to whether or not they wish to undertake that risk. Our laws will permit us to jump out of perfectly good airplanes, ride boats through the Grand Canyon and have unprotected sex with strangers, but we can't go back to our homes after a hurricane?