Updated: Tue Feb. 24 2009 17:13:11

CTV.ca News Staff

The Canadian Police Association says all officers should be allowed to carry Tasers and receive regular training to ensure they are using them correctly and in appropriate situations.

The CPA and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police released their joint position paper on the use of Tasers in Ottawa on Tuesday.

The groups also recommended that provincial governments set a uniform standard for training, testing and reporting incidents when Tasers are used.

"This would assure (law enforcement) agencies, their oversight bodies and the public that the police are exercising due diligence in the use of conducted energy weapons," CPA president Charles Momy told reporters.

Momy and Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Vice-president Tom Kaye maintained that there is no evidence that a Taser has directly caused the death of a suspect.

They said that 150 studies have failed to find a link between Tasers and deaths, but did not make reference to any specific research.

However, earlier this month, the RCMP released new guidelines for the use of Tasers, acknowledging that they may increase the risk of death for a suspect who is agitated.

The new policy restricts the use of Tasers to subdue a suspect when the safety of officers or the public is threatened.

The RCMP guidelines were announced as a public inquiry is underway in B.C. to probe the death of Robert Dziekanski, a Polish man who became disoriented at the Vancouver airport.

Dziekanski became agitated after spending hours at the airport looking for his mother, who was waiting to pick him up.

He died after being subdued by RCMP officers, including being hit by a Taser.

Despite police claims that Tasers are safe, a team of Chicago researchers who Tasered pigs in 2006 found that each animal either died or suffered heart problems after being hit in the chest with two 40-second jolts.

Both Momy and Kaye said that the general public has been misinformed about the potential dangers of Tasers, and cited examples when people have been subdued when they were threatening to commit suicide.

Both men said officers are already authorized to use force when necessary, and called Tasers a valuable public safety tool.

"The CEW is used in situations when there is an imminent need to control, and when other options have been ruled out by a police officer," Momy said.

However, they also cautioned that there is the risk of injury or even death associated with other forms of force, including batons and pepper spray.

Comments are now closed for this story

Bigima
The police association is pro, pro, pro tasers. All police officers should have them! They save lives! Why lookee look, the disturbed, the mentally-challenged, the deaf, the foreigner, the agitated, they will all benefit! The frightening part is that the police believe this and may yet convince their overseers. Have taser, will travel - Yipee, Yai Yai Yay!

ick in NB
If you stick something into someone and they die because of it. It is bad very bad. How much can the police jump around this fact. Blaming victoms because of thier mental or emotional state is just foolish. Here's a news flash. Most if not all people are in a highly emotional state when they are about to be TASERED!!
The mind is the greatest weapon provided to us all when dealing with danger. Use it.

Cathy
The police are far too free now with use of Tasers. Not good..

Dave in Burnaby
I think the police are right here. As long as they use them much more carefully than they have in the past, I have no problem with tazers being used instead of guns and pepper spray.

Paul in SJ
The fact of the matter is that Tasers are being used in instances where officers a feeling physically threatened.

The vast majority of taser use is done with no permanent damage to the subject, and it is a hell of a lot less lethal than a bullet.

We forget that we as society have asked these police officers to stand between us and criminals, we have given them the power to decide if the use of llethal force is warrented. Yes, it is unfortunate that there have ben a few deaths, but if they didn't have the tasers, then there would be a significant increase in the use of deadly force!

Mack from Ont.
The taser is a leathal weapon and should be used in only cases were a extreme circumstances occur. If you nput that weapon in the hands of a criminal and if they used it they would get life. But a cop uses it and it's perfectly safe. HELLO is anybody home.

Doug Thornton
Police need to act under the same rules as every other citizen of Canada. Taser's do represent an aid to subduing suspects in certain circumstances but should still be treated as a deadly weapon. Death's resulting in their use should be investigated and if excess force was used Police Officers should face the same penalty as any other person. The incident at Vancover Airport, subsquent actions by the RCMP and failure of the prosceution services puts all the agencies in a bad light.

olebigblue
with better education i agree completely with the recommendation

Trent
Everyone here seems to know how to deal with people in stressful situations. I would suggest a change in career and become a police officer. Your wisdom and theories on how it should be done must be shared with all the people that are incorrectly doing their job.

Get off your couch and show them how it is done!

Peter L, Kamloops, BC
Good for the police associations to come forward and defend the tasers use. These bleeding hearts out there don't understand that instead of a taser it could be a nightstick or a firearm that could do the damage. My take is if you don't want the taser used on you then don't commit a crime or provoke the police. We as citizens are hardly allowed to defend ourselves now you want the police to be gentle with criminals No wonder the criminals aren't afraid of killing people on the streets.

Ron
I think It depends on the situation. In the case we are talking about there was 4 RCMP officers against one person. They hit him 5 times. In this case I don't beleive it was justified. The police certainly have a difficult job to do to protect the public. I'm sure in about 90% of the time It's probably justified.

BDave
I think the police should have the pepper spray and tasers removed and just go back to using their side arms. Instead of 2 metal probes into a person from a taser, 2 shots as they are trained from their side arms. This way, the complaining about the tasers will go away. Why should a police officer end up dead or injuried because of someone they do not know. They dont get paid enough for that. They have families too waiting for them to return from work. Another idea is when all of your friends and family members go nuts, you all deal with them, quit picking up the phone and getting the police come and deal with them if you dont like the out comes. Just stop dialing 911 and the taser incidents will stop. Its all the public has to do.

S. Miller
If tasers were intended as an alternative to firearms, shouldn't we expect to see this reflected in statistics on firearm use by police? That is, since the introduction of tasers, there has been an X% reduction in the instances of an officer drawing his weapon, and a Y% reduction in the instances of an officer discharging his weapon?

Art
It seems to be excessive use of force in many cases. The police say they feel in danger, but in many cases the person tasered doesn't even have a weapon other than their fists. I question the safety of hitting a person with a taser multiple times in quick sucession.

Do you really believe all the research that was paid for by the company selling the taser that they are safe?

Steve in Ottawa
You'd think they feel safe enough with all the weapons they already carry. Taser's just appear too easy for the police to use. It's clean and quiet, unlike a gun or a trencheon.

Munro - Brampton
What ever happened to the police batons ? Those 'knight sticks'? Three or four RCMP can not subdue a man holding a small table. No, they have to electrocute him ! We see thru their excuses. This is simply wrong.

Jen
Tasers are not tried and true.Voltage is inconsistent.
The police have assumed it is okay to use a taser, whenever.
Even on someone who doesn't have a skytrain ticket!
The police rely too heavily on the taser, almost to the point of abuse. And now they are trying to convince the public that tasers are a necessary tool. After seeing what they did to the Polish immigrant at YVR, tasering him 5 times- TASERS SHOULD BE BANNED!!.

Concerned for officer and public safety
I wish people who are against tasers could experience what it is like to confront and attempt to control an agitated 200lb man. It is way too easy to judge from a distance.

ex-Canuck
So let me get this straight. EVERY time a cop uses a gun, the chances of death are virtually 100%. People don't like that obviously. So now we have the Tasers as an option, and death from this weapon is less than 1%. And we're screaming about that 1%. Perhaps some of the nitwits commenting here should spend a moment pondering a police officers daily life.

Brian Hunt
The police association spokespeople make the mistake that assuming that the absence of proof that Tasers have killed implies that the weapon is safe to use.Since neither the safety or danger of the weapons is proven by documentation,it would be better to be cautious in their promotion .Also ,the two situations cited in the press conference,where Taser use was arguably positive in outcome,do little to calm the worry over the deaths associated with the weapons' use. Let's have a moratorium on the use of stun guns,rather than expanding their use to every police officer in Canada. Winnipeg.

Vancouverite
What people fail to take into account is that tasers are a useful tool. I understand the controversy around the Robert Dziekanski case as there were more than enough cops to take him down without a taser. However, in situations where a policeman is forced to either use a gun or a taser to defend himself or protect others, it seems like a no brainer. It is a fine line but when has law enforcement ever been clear? I think the RCMP is doing an excellent job with a few exceptions. If you want a different style of police go to a country with real crime problems....you will find no tasers there.....just a gun. As far as I am concerned if I were in a situation to either be tasered or shot with a 9mm, I will take the taser thank you very much.

Me.
What I know is... when I went to the Vancouver airport, I had much less confidence in their security than any other security place.

Cory in Calgary
Obviously more training and screening of RCMP is required. Tasers are able to exact deadly force in the same magnitude as a small bullet. This means a bullet may slow you down without killing you and so can a taser. One draws blood and one stops the heart. Unless there is a weapon the rule of Law should and is "Not to use excessive force". Obviously this has to be enforced where excessive force is used there should be criminal charges whether RCMP or civilians use excessive force. What are the side effects of too much electric charge to the brain and nervous system? I would find it hard to beleive there is no permanent damages caused by Tasers. So why not just use a small calibre gun or rubber bullets and shoot civilians instead of using tasers...At least a bullet hole from a .22 or rubber bullet would heal and show all the damages caused by the use.

There is no benefit to Taser use that isn't met by pepper spray or side arms. So why do Tasers have to be used knowing they are deadly force?
Additionally, RCMP need to be trained better in Judo for submission holds as well. These causes no harm to the RCMP or the civilian put in submission.

Taser are liked by RCMP due to the amount of force they exact on a target to see total submission with dominant power and absolute control with maximum infliction to civilian without drawing blood.

Anthony
Actually, it is not the taser, but a stapler, what the police should carry, because it seems to a very effective weapon that may scare off potential trouble makers.
An RCMP officer who took part in taking down and Tasering Robert Dziekanski says he was fearful of the Polish man's aggressive stance during the fatal confrontation at Vancouver's airport. I guess when Dziekanski held a stapler, 4 fully trained and ARMED RCMP officers decided, that a stapler is or has in that moment become a totally “Lethal Weapon” endangering the lives of all four of them although the staples were not “ discharged out of ” the stapler.... by Dziekanski. Therefore Dziekanski was tasered 5 times, probably so that they would neutralize the stapler. Man o man - no comments....

Balance is the key
The real problem seems to be with what constitutes an "appropriate situation" for taser use.

I fully support our police but I think that the "non-lethal" label on the taser has lead a generation of officers to equate that with "harmless" which is obviously not the case.

This has lead to the rampant use of the taser as a premptive "just in case" weapon that is used indescriminantly even when the subject is not truly threatening or violent.

I believe the taser should return to a "last resort" before lethal force.

In other words officers, if you aren't considering using your firearm, do not consider using your taser.

If you could not justify use of your firearm on a suspect, you should not be able to justify use of the taser since both can clearly be lethal.

It is when used as an
alternative to the firearm that the taser saves lives, not when used as an alternative to talking.

TC from BC
Well, when there are more police-involved shootings the left wing public will then begin to cry that police are killing too many people in situations that tasers could have been effective. ONce again, the police always seem to be the ones to blame. Perhaps we should take guns away from the police too and let the criminals run this country like is starting to become the case anyway. We Canadians don't know how good we have it. Has anyone done any traveling lately? How about an incident like the YVR incident occurring in some other country? What would have been the outcome there? The authorities would not have hesitated and such an incident would likely have not have even made the news. Suck it up Canada. It's bad enough as it is with the ever-failing justice system we have...

Garry Ladouceur
The guy has a point. I doubt if he realizes it though.


Each new technology must pay for itself in the real bottom line. How much money will it save? Tasers save beaucoup as they would say in Viet Nam.

You can now send a cop into a tough situation with a taser rather than a couple of cops to seek to control and limit the situation through expensive "human" intervention.


The cheapest policing solution over all is a small fortress in a large area with quick a violent responsiveness to trouble.

Keep cop numbers down, increase strike power. Soon though tasers wont be enough. We will have to give these cops taser cannons. Then taser smart bombs....

keith
These guys just don't get it. They have zero credibility on the taser issue with the public anymore and then to come out with this preposterous claim that tasers save lives and that police deploy them correctly while we are in the midst of the Dzeirkanski inquiry just shows how connected they are to Canadians. Canadians have had a serious dose of the erosion of public trust and confidence in our police forces and the taser issue ranks as one of the biggest reasons I have lost confidence in policing in this country. They have a tough and at times impossible job but to do the job you need the public with you all the way. On this on the public is so far ahead of the police that they (the police associations) can't be seen.

Steve the Pundit
I am generally a supporter of the police and their needs, but there are too many examples, many fatal, where tasers have been used inappropriately. Much as it pains me to say it, in the case of the unfortunate incident with the gentleman at the airport, it appears the taser use was an easy, or "lazy", way out.

Tasers should only be used in the same types of circumstances officers would otherwise discharge their sidearm. We're talking lethal force here; a bullet or a taser still have the capability of killing someone in the right (wrong?) circumstances.

Rob
I am astounded at the lack of support, criticism, and ignorance surrounding anything police related in this country.

Police officers from coast to coast have decided to dedicate their lives to the protection and betterment of society. They leave their homes not knowing if they will return, they miss their kid's birthdays, they miss warm, home cooked meals, they miss holidays and stand in the cold and rain, and make decisions in a spilt second the rest of the public can sit home and scrutinize in the warmth of their living rooms for hours... days.. weeks!!!

The Taser was introduced to give officers another use of force option prior to having to resort to lethal force or another form of physical combat. For the most part, when a person is tasered there are no lasting effects. When a person is involved in an all-out physical, hand to hand confrontation, I can assure you the same is not true.

I would agree with anyone who says that there is likely some level of corruption in some police agencies and that there are police officers out there who are 'bad apples". However, the vast majority of police officers are hard working, honest, dedicated men and women, who would put their own life on the line any day to save total strangers. The police in this country are not the enemy as they are too often painted to be.

But, what do I know about it?? ...... I live the life... every day!!!

Bill in NFLD
Police use of Force

Subject - maximum lvl of force

Compliant subject - officer presence and verbal commands

Non-compliant(walks away ignores officer) - officer presence and verbal commands and soft hand techniques

Resistive(attepts to loose grib of arresting officer but does not strike) - officer presence and verbal commands and soft hand techniques, hard hand techniques and pepper spray

Assaultive(throws items, strikes, or assumes "boxing stance") - officer presence and verbal commands and soft hand techniques, hard hand techniques and pepper spray, baton

Lethal force(has weapon and shows signs it may be used on officer or someone else, feel threat to life or greivous bodily harm) - officer presence and verbal commands and soft hand techniques, hard hand techniques and pepper spray, baton, gun

I have listed the subjects demenor and the officers choice of options in a very simple way. As you can see the officer can always use a lower lvl of force if they believe it may work. Now do some of you really believe the taser which has killed very few, and not killed many, should not be used somewhere between an assaultive subject and a deadly force subject? Really? So we should go from a baton, which causes injury as well, to a gun? No in between? I beleive some of you have flawed thinking and have no idea what police go through in the course of a day.

D Bycok - Oshawa
Being a police officer, I can say the taser can be an effective use of force option and great alternative to lethal force. The taser gets used far more appropriately than reported in the media and has saved many lives, including officers !! Perhaps some of you should put yourselves in a situation where you face-off against a knife weilding person or someone highly intoxicated by drugs or alcohol and tell me how you feel. Just because we wear a kevlar vest and use of force options doesn't exclude us from the feeling of fear. Furthermore, from experience, I can tell you that OC spray nor a baton will have much effect on mentally instabile persons or goal oriented persons. The province should consult with police agencies to develop a universal training model and outline when the use of the taser is deemed appropriate. Officers that use the taser are subject to review and if used inappropriately, they should face penalties.

GG
Isnt this like Butch Cassidy providing testimony for the Sundance Kid. Ridiculous. But most Canadians are above this biased rhetoric. ALL of these matters should have independent review. I would say that tasers have a legitimate place but the various policing agencies have abused this tool/device and have used it in many very unnecessary circumstances.We are not a POLICE STATE.I wonder if thats in their training manuals. And about saving lives.Hmmmm.I wonder how many people died on alternate forms of devices ie.the baton.I doubt that statistic is raised by these biased chiefs. I would say wayyyyyyyy more people have died via the taser than by a baton. If the situation is so dangerous.then use your lethal weapons.The use of taser has clearly been creeping for convenient purposes and not used in the appropriate circumstances.I am an ardent supporter of the police and have family members in the service but they got this ALL WRONG on the taser. In most democracies we have a justice system that says that 12 of our peers,a jury,can determine a criminal case.I would say pick ANY 12 people in Canada and this will be a 12-0 decision that Dziekanski was unjustly killed by the RCMP using a taser. A sad state of affairs.And who knows how many other wrongful deaths/cover ups using the taser there have been. Canadians deserve better. Our once proud RCMP is a disgrace for taking their position. Their reputation tarnished. And until they take full responsiblity and accountability for their actions..tarnished forever. A completely independent ovesight review Board must be established to return justice to the people. It is OUR country we deserve better. Somebody needs to be accountable either the officers involved or the RCMP for their horrible policy or training.

Would rather be tazered
I think that what everyone is forgetting is that physical confrontations are just as dangerous.

I can't imagine how people expect the police to hold down a thrashing individual without knocking the head/neck or putting enough weight on him that he stops breathing.

Tazers are potentially lethal and probably a good idea so long as police remember that that they are dangerous.

Anne M
All this talk about the use of pepper spray, tasers etc, etc, what about trianing officers properly to use talk, martial arts, instead of these things. Whatever happened to the good old days when an officer could take you down manually, not have to use a weapon.

CEM
Could people please stop using the simplified, infantile comparison that a gun is more lethal than a taser? No one would argue that; what they are arguing is that tasers are used in cases where no gun would ever be considered. I wonder how any of you would feel if their precious teenage son/daughter (you know, teenagers who have been known in the past to be somewhat "combative"), died because after refusing to obey an officer's order, they shot their mouth off, were tasered and killed. Remember the 14 year old girl in her bedroom? If she would have died, all of those "ask-no-questions" people would still be saying she deserved it.

Nathan from Regina
I think the police should have every right to use their tazers. If someone doesn't want to get hit, then do what the police say...it's a fairly simple concept. People need to start standing up and supporting our law inforcement a little bit more instead of trying to defend the people that don't listen to what the police tell them to do. even if you can't understand English, a person with a uniform and a badge pointing a tazer gun at you is a pretty universal language.

Doug BC
Be careful what you ask for,my friends.If the Taser is not on the list of tools available to a police officer facing a threat,the next option is a bullet.
It seems to me that police need to make sure they keep upgrading their training with these weapons,and that research to make them as safe as possible continues on.
Second,I'd suggest that people who don't want to be Tasered try obeying the law and complying with the reasonable instructions of a law enforcement officer.
Obviously we now know the Tasers CAN be lethal to some people.But to those same people,a bullet would almost CERTAINLY be lethal.And we need our laws enforced.
If you've got some ideas how to enforce the law and place no one in peril at any time,I'm sure you'll be a hero in any jurisdiction.
But frankly,most of the time I trust a police officer a whole lot more than I trust most of the people they have to deal with.In most confrontations in which force is used by a police officer,if I had to choose a side,I'd be siding with the officer.NOT the perpetrator or someone not complying with instructions from a police officer.
Mr.Dziekanski's encounter cannot be used as an excuse to disarm our police.As unfortunate as his death was,there are many people alive because an officer was able to use a Taser,and thus able to avoid drawing a more lethal firarm.

TR
I fully agree with use of the tasers. These officers put their life on the line for us everyday! Why should they not be aloud to protect them selves. The deaths are unfortune, but why where these people actting aggressively towards an officer in the first place?
There has to be some accountablity on the person behaving aggressive towards an officer. I am sick of the It is not my fault, it was the drugs or the my upbring. You decided to behave that way so it is your choice and there for your responsibilty! Not the police's!!!

Lee in Calgary
I believe the Taser should be issued to all police. Having said that we need to get some facts out and be clear about when and under what circumstances the police may use this weapon and also how each use will be investigated and how officers will be disciplined if they are misused.

First this is not a lethal weapon, it is a potentially lethal weapon, which is also how a firearm is classified. Just because a police officer shoots a suspect does not mean he will die.

The taser, when used appropriately will not result in death, however if used excessively or on those who are showing signs of either excited dellirium or just dellirium from drug use or mental defect may result in death therefore the second component must be training. Police officers know that if used properly the baton can help to subdue a suspect but if you begin with blows to the head may result in death therefore they are well trained to strike at joints. Again if an officer misuses the baton a death may result.

The final component is a formal method of investigating the use of the taser with clear repercussions. The police have well estblished protocols to deal with shootings and can easily adapt those to deal with taser deployments.

This is a valuable tool if used correctly but like anything if misused may kill. We need to support police who act correctly and harshly punish those who don't.

Bill Case
To me the issue in the use of Tasers is "there but for Grace of God, go I".

One of the most basic rights that we have as citizens is the right to go about our business without being interfered with by police. Police must show some cause for stopping you and questioning you.

I am not a lawyer, but within that right I feel that I have the right to protest my innocence if stopped.

I have never been arrested for anything in my life. But I cannot imagine that I wouldn't protest if it did happen (even if it turns out I was wrong) or that I wouldn't squirm about if a police officer was leaning on my head, pushing my face into the ground.

Yet all the videos of Taser use seem to be almost casual, with no regard for context or natural human reaction. Tasers let police play a dominance game that seems to have little to do with their job.

Darren
Tasers are now being used in place of conflict resolution. I've seen bus drivers with better conflict resolution skills! If some officer learnt how to resolve conflicts, then maybe they could walk around without that chip on their sholder that does more to scare away the public then anything else.

Ben from Oshawa
Why do police not use the baton provided , or the gun instead of a taser which apparently does not kill anyone, just the people that have been dying from it. But those are from previous health issues .....RIGHT....like my body doesn't like 250,000Volts.

Gail (Hamilton)
Those who criticize the police for doing their jobs are obviously not the ones confronting the difficult situations the police do every day. When we rely on them to protect us, we should be supportive of the methods and means they use in finding the best solution to ensure overall public safety.

Ryan in Burlington
Here's a far fetched idea that may be just too crazy to work: don't give them a reason to use it on you! How about living your life by abiding the laws of the land???

Think of it this way, they could either tazer you or shoot you: what would you rather have???

All those who are speaking out aggainst tazer use by police (and soon gun use too, I'm sure) obviously aren't part of the law enforcement community, and are probably left-wing saps who believe that cops should be seen and not heard.

Back to may best idea yet: let the police and RCMP DO THEIR JOBS and leave them ALONE!!! In fact, they should be using tazers and guns more, perhaps THAT will curb crime!

B. Fast in Whitehorse
I don't see this as an issue of tasers. I see this as an issue of police officer's good sense, of the police force's good sense.

These guys couldn't, and even with hindsight can't, recognize the difference between a combative person and a defensive person, between anger and duress.

Further, with their actions being supported as they are by the policing system, these guys are creating distrust for the RCMP in general. In doing so, they are increasing the amount of violence that they will be facing in the streets.

Our police force was one of the most highly respected in the world. It is no longer.

Nettie
Excuse me ... the police are here to serve and PROTECT US by whatever means necessary. At the moment the criminals have all the rights, WHERE ARE MINE and by the same token, where is the right of our officers of the peace to protect themselves.

They lay their lives on the line for us 24/7. It's time we banded behind them, it's they who should be receiving our support.

I am not an officer of the law, have no family member who is, but I take pride in those who protect me, and shame on you who do not!

TVic
I agree that the police should keep the tasers and take regular training in their use. This is much better than having to draw a gun and fire it!!

G-Dog
I am tired of people complaining regarding any result from a taser use. A taser is used if a certain scenario deems it suitable for an officer to do so. The officer could chose to pull his weapon, as both are options in any scenario that deems suitable. To stop the crying about the taser, perhaps the police should just opt to pull their weapons and use it instead. Walk the path of an officer for a while before you criticize. By the way, no, I am not affiliated in any way to the police.....believe me.

iggy and the stooges
they need them here in cole harbour,n.s. our police force is a bunch of tiny women. there once was a time when the rcmp had rules about a persons size, now they are so busy trying to represent every segment of society that this is what we get

interested observer
I see people making comments and expressing opinions about something they know absolutely nothing about,but are experts on everything...policing as a profession like most has standards,policies and procedures but it starts when the boots hit the ground and you deal with the nose to nose everyday dealings of humans at their worst..and that' s not pretty....95% of the commentators would not last 5 minutes in a real confrontation....but it is so easy to be annonymous in this form..and critisize those that do ..day in and day out...and most likely you had a run in with police because you were a moron and you were put in your place ...you lack of knowledge is so obivious..but it is a democratic country and those you condemn keep it that way..

rachel
we all want them to protect us yet we tie their hands behind their backs... if an officer pulls his gun out of the holster he has to fill out tons of paperwork, thus putting his own life at risk because of the indecision. Tasers are much less lethal than a gun.

Proud Wife of a Mountie
My husband is one of those people who go out on a daily basis to protect the public, leaving behind his children and his wife. I would rather he comes home and talks about how he used a taser to control a situation that have to deal with the years of emotional trauma caused by pulling his firearm and shooting someone.

If you don't agree with the use of tasers, all police forces in Canada are recruiting. Feel free to go and go my husband's job so he can come home every night safe and sound to his family.

Canuck in bellingham WA
A Simple Answer

Require that every officer who uses his taser fill out a report similar to discharge of weapon report. That he be put on desk duty until the review is done. And that the person it is used on be interviewed, an automatic review. Make sure they are only being used in legitmate situations.

I support the police having tasers 100%. I also support them being required to justify each and every use. If a situation isn;t serious enough for them to be prepared for the inquiry and paperwork they shouldn't be using it.

Elly
While I respect our law enforcement, sorry I happen to think the taser is a lethal weapon and should only be used in extreme cases!!
the gentleman from Poland had a language barrier and was distraught and tired from wandering around the airport for hours and not getting any help.He was hardly a criminal!Please dont tell me 4 policemen could not restrain this man!
This weapon should really be banned but we all know it wont be
Before anyone attacks this post please remember we live in a democracy.We should all be able to express our opinion freely without being attacked just bc its not the same opinion you have!All posts on here should be respected as anothers opinion!

Paul
We need to remember that the individuals that Tasers are being used on have BROKEN the law. In the few case where an innocent individual falls victim this is unfortunate. In many other societies if you fail to listen when a police officer tells you to get on the ground or to stop, your about to have a unpleasant experience. We put our police officers in harms way everyday. Yet our society consistently disobeys their commands. This puts them in an extremely difficult position, often dangerous. A law obeying citizen should not be worries about the Use of Force from a police officer, having no reason to even interact with them, let alone be confronted by them.

Big Business?
The CPA says that over 150 studies worldwide have not shown that anybody suffers any harm and there are no deaths from Tasers. Many of these studies were completed by Taser International, the maker and seller of the Taser.

The tobacco industry had hundreds of studies that proved smoking didn't kill.

Strangely the Canadian Police Association have ignored the 24 people who have died in Canada after being Tasered.

20 people died during the Listeria outbreak and the government took action. 24 people die after Tasers are used on them and the government lets the Police Chiefs and Taser International set the agenda.
The money from big business must be working closely with the Police Chiefs to increase their profits. Why else would the Canadian Police Association want EVERY cop in Canada to be issued a Taser ?

Jim in Edmonton
Look at how the use has jumped in the last couple of years! Way too easy. The officers at the inquiry saying they were afraid of a stapler is simply rediculous. This is part of the "shoot first, ask questions later mentality!" I suppose there are minimal occasions where it's use is justified - perhaps when an officer is in a over numbered situation but the use is simply way out of control. It takes seconds for some officers to use this device which shows it's just a quick way out. I want very, very strict controls as to when and how this device is used. The officer is supposed to be the first responder not the taser, otherwise we could just arm citizens to go around tasering each other! Otherwise we could be getting in to the situation where the citizens need to be protected from the police like a banana republic ... don't taser me,i'm Canadian!

Ben
What would you rather take? An electrical discharge designed to subdue you, or a bullet designed to kill you? Police must have the ability to defend the public and themselves. Ranged weapons designed to subdue will always carry a lethal risk, but it's important to remember that instances where tasers are directly attributed to fatalities are rare considering their deployment and use.

Mr Chillz
How about we make it mandatory that Police officers have to be tasered once a month to ensure that the Taser itself is working properly?

Let's see how many will want to carry them,....

Sean
People who die after being tasered, doesn't mean the taser necessarily caused the death.

Most people who are tasered suffer from excited delirium, usually brought on by drug use.

They become very hot, violent, have unusual strength and cannot be talked down.

These people are unpredictable and dangerous to the public and it is very possible they will die weather they are tasered or not.

If someone in this state grabs a weapon, like a knife, or a "chair".

The officer responding can use deadly force (a gun) to protect himself or others from bodily harm or death...

Now, what would you rather the officer do, shoot the person, or taser him?

No More Excuses, Calgary
Bottom line... they killed someone who did not have a weapon and HOW many of them were there
NO MORE EXCUSES, THEY KILLED AN MAN WHO WAS HAD DONE NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT FOR PERHAPS BEING SCARED AND CONFUSED. They hit this poor guy 5 times, once again i must say how many of them were there

Al
I feel that it's not the taser but it's the user. There are good cops out there who use it as a last resort, and there are bad ones out there who use it as a first choice. People are thinking that "martial arts" and blunt force are the smarter ways of taking people down. People...do your job, I'll do mine. In the world of biting, scratching, spitting, blood borne pathogens, MRSA, and fatal diseases, law enoforcement needs to make the call to protect the public, including themselves. While you are asleep at night, law enforcement is dealing with people tweaked out of their gourd, gangs, domestics, etc. There is no COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA in these instances. Hindsight is always 20/20. You need to make the call and stand behind it. Just becase they are cops doesn't mean they are supposed to take their hits. I think Canadian Cops are doing a fantastic job for the shortages being experienced. If you need a reminder of what it "could" be like, read a Miami, LA, or New York Paper...Officers are firing shots...AND reloading. Bottom line is that if you want less taser use, then perhaps the public should meet society halfway and stop endangering each other. It's too easy to judge when you don't walk in their shoes.

Doug, Medicine Hat
I really don,t know how many people die each year by tasers, but I do know hundreds of people are killed each year by impaired drivers yet I don,t hear any public out cry of banning alochol.

Edwin from Toronto
Take away all weapons from the police force and let them use Kung Fu

But then, how much shall we pay a cop on duty risking his life on a daily basis?

All weapons of any kind has possibility of abuse.

tim
if you listen to the video you here the one rcmp ask the other "can i tazer him" thats before they even got close. whats that all about i imagine he probabaly had a great big smile when he got the ok tazers arent the problem. its those who use. there has to be a better method of choosing our police

Tony - Halifax
From what I have seen of the video and the testimony from the RCMP Officer, I’m still disgusted.

He was worried for his safety? Really now, and how many people were around? The RCMP; the public? He was just one frightened man and the RCMP officer was concerned about his own safety?

It makes me wonder about the Self Defence and Subduing training they get. When I was just a Kid and a Security Guard, no weapons or training for self defence, I’ve had to subdue people. I never killed anyone.

What is it they get paid for again, to protect us? With occurrences such as this, I am beginning to worry about my own safety when I see the flashing lights and uniform.

Let us hope that we don’t become afraid of Certain Uniforms as they did in Europe in the 30’s and 40s.

Douglas Brown (Newmarket, ON)
I have not seen a good explanation as to why four large trained RCMP officers could not physically restrain a middle aged man armed only with a stapler without using a Taser. If they are not able to answer that, then there is a problem. BTW - "I felt threatened" is not really a good response.

Paul
I am always amazed when I see a story about Tasers. I am blown away how the media has convinced certain people that Tasers are killing people left and right. You rarely see a story where police Tasered a man and it saved him from harming himself or another person. All you hear is the negative stories. Fact: More people have died from pepper spray than Tasers. There was one in Regina this year. Where is the outrage? Now when ever someone dies in police custody the media always asks "Was he Tasered?".

The media have turned the Canadian public into Taser hating sheep who just follow along blindly. Know your facts before you jump on the anti-taser (and usually anti-police) bandwagon.

Jerry in the west
I think police should have tasers , but should have proper training in there use and possible consiquences . Saying that I think the RCMP should quit trying to spin what happened , if that officer was scared for his life by a stapler he needs to be behind a desk.

John in Fredericton, NB
You people who think Canadian police officers should not have tasers as an option need your heads checked. Why don't you get off the couch, go sign up, and maybe see what a day on the job is all about. You seem to have all the answers from your arm chair so maybe you can throw the old gun belt on and make a difference in society...without a Taser. Listen people, in any case I've seen portrayed thus far in the media, the officers were totally justified. If they had used a shot gun or 40 Cal side arm to put a big hole in the guys chest or head, the media would report this for a day or two. Mention Taser and whooooo...we have a news frenzy for a year or two. This is really simple to grasp. The Taser is on the upper end of less than lethal force which an officer has at his disposal. GROW UP, leave the police work to the experts and let the police do their jobs properly WITH a Taser!

Tony - Halifax
amend....

I do fully support the Police and our Troops. I would not want to be one. But I cannot condone situations like this case, others perhaps, but not this one.

Robert needed help, not death.

Tasers do kill people....
The police commissions can say whatever they want..... BUT.... Tasers have repeatedly proven they DO KILL PEOPLE. The safety of using Tasers is NOT without its problems and justifiable critics.

Unless and until greater safety can be established Tasers should be banned... PERIOD.

Too many cops are using Tasers instead of using the training they were instructed to use. It's a case of laziness in my view and my son is a well trained and well paid cop so I am not without some understanding of the issues here.

Shoot and kill then ask questions!
Right lets keep on killing innocent people just in case they could be dangerous to our police forces!

What a stupid way of thinking!

Curtis
2 things to consider here.... the person involved in a standoff with police usually knows the bad side of the law, and will continue to seek drugs, alcohol, and property theft as a regular way of life. The court system allows them time and again to get out of jail.
And the second thing is this: most police I know would rather never face a situation where they have to take someone's life. I bet 99% of police would rather use a taser to gain control of a situation than to permanently stop a criminal.
and maybe number three... why don't you, Joe Public, go into a dark drug-infested alley and try to have a rational conversation with someone. I'm sure their clear-thinking minds will engage you in a healthy conversation on current world news or the latest sports controversies..... just a thought

Rob
Taser or a bullet??? I pick taser for me thanks!
Do you expect the cops do get beat up or worse from bad guys? Time for some of you left wing loonies to take a break. Maybe at your next ralley, the cops should just hit cha with some 9mms instead of a taser? If they used their sticks, you would attack them even worse, that looks bad...gimme a break. Not all cops are 6'5'' and 240 pds. I do not expect them to be in any more danger than they already are...Let them do their work. My 2 cents
PS...If you are good, you won't get tasered...do the math..

Mike
I believe that in a LOT of situations the taser is used as a PUNISHMENT TOOL!

Non-compliance to an officer's commands? Use the taser!
Too slow in complying? Use the taser!
Swear at or call the officer names? Use the taser!

Nothing like 50,000 volts to bring a suspect into line. Sure beats the ol' blackjack sap or billy club! No black and blue bruises on the victim, err sorry... suspect, either!

Anti-Taser Guy
Not one of those RCMP officers at the Vancouver airport even tried to apprehend him physically or use pepper spray first ,they just tasered him. Come on four fully trained cops against one bad guy.They rely too much on toys and not enough on Brut strength and training ... Hell they could have even taken him out with a K-9 first? I would bet money that the moment that he saw the k-9 he would have started to co-operate or he would a bite then he would have been on the ground anyway and in cuffs.

Dave in BC
The crap that police officers put up with, the disrespect and disdain that people seem to have, has got to be the worst part of their job. We expect them to protect us, to bring criminals to justice. When those criminals begin to have the upper hand, which seems to be the growing case, we as a people stop them from doing the job we want and expect them to do. Let's not continue stripping them of their abilities to do a very hard job indeed.

Dan in Toronto
I find it odd that the medical profession has not jumped in to state their voice on this subject. Seems to me that the use of electricity in a these guns is not much different than that of what a Defibrillator does. When the wires are shot into a person’s body, the Taser does not discriminate shock to one muscle, the entire body is exposed so why do they continue to try and make this a safe and effective tool, and yes we are all too stupid to realize one death after the use of a taser is too much.

I think if we look back at last year in Canada, there may have been more deaths relating to police shootings with taser’s than real gun death, but I may be wrong as these facts are never published.

Patrick
I personaly would rather get tazered than shot. How ever I dont for see me doing anything that would require police to shot or tazer me.

Fatman
Every time I watch the tasering at the Vancouver Airport I find myself amazed at how four young, in-shape "bulls" had to resort to using what turned out to be deadly force in order to subdue a tired, very confused, middle-aged immigrant. Shame on them! Brains not tasers are what was required in circumstance as such. Those responsible for the death of this man escaping punishment for their thoughtless actions will in itself be a second crime.

Contrary to what some may say Tasers have no place in modern police work - at least not in this country!

Martin
This is a perfect example of the old adage that you should never give a gun to a person that wants one. The police want tasers because it gives them a sense of empowerment by having a weapon. They should get a real job where they do not need to get a sense of empowerment merely from having a weapon.

MB in Ottawa
In response to Cathy:Cathy
The police are far too free now with use of Tasers. Not good..

Now, let's look at the fact that CRIMINALS HAVE NO LAWS, THEY CARE NOT, THEY ARE FREE DO DO AS THEY PLEASE,,,,, why always judge Police Officers. Let's face it, with the Famous charter of rights,,, criminals can do as they please,,,, cause if you are honest, then you will not need the charter now will you!!!! The charter helps the criminal do their job right!!!!

Michael
Would you rather be shot with a Taser and possibly die or be should with a cop's service pistol and most likely die? Police are trained to shot for 'center mass' because if their aim is off by up to six inches there is still a good chance that the round will hit a vital organ and incapacitate the suspect. I for one would prefer the small possibility of dying from a Taser over the high possibility of dying from a pistol round to the chest. Wake up all you bleeding-heart police critics! Its because of you that the criminals have more rights concerning their well being then the police do!

Albertaboy111
Come on people. Cops don't use tazers in situations where they would use a gun. If that were the case we would have had alot more police related homicides in this country prior to tazers being introduced. They use tazers whenever they feel like it so they don't have to use other non lethal force. In an instance where a gun would be used, tazers are great, but when you are tazing sleeping homeless people, People already in jail cells, and aggitated travellers without even communicating with them something is seriously wrong with the judgement of our law enforcers. Don't ban tazers just get rid of stupid and incompetent police. Including ones stupid enough to say tazers don't kill. Mounting evidence and common sense beg to differ.

Rather shocked than shot.
Tasers are the best way to ensure that a violent confrontation between a suspect and police ends with minimal injury to all parties.

Tasers should be given to all police instead of guns.
Police should only use the taser when confronted by a violent person, and not whenever a suspect is not cooperating.

Tasers are still weapons, and they are still dangerous. But they are a very useful tool when bringing a violent situation under control.

PB - Toronto
The public just doesnt get it and never will. This subject has been beaten to death I continue to hear from the arm chair experts on when and how a taser should be used. Well when these same arm chair experts get off their asses and actually get out and do the job then I may respect thier opinion. There so much they dont hear. Regardless of how many officers there are, I fail to see justification in a physical altercation when the officers have no doubt the subject will resist or become combative. In entering into one they subject themselves to unwarranted injuries and possible infection from HIV, Hep C, etc, etc.. . Its very possible that people may die in ANY altercation with police or with another member of the public. Its simply unfortunate. The fatc remains tasers are not meant to kill and are not used as such. Times have changesd and police have to change as well. Contrary to what some might bleive the world is not becoming a nicer place. The increase in violent crimes across the country are a testament to that. The Canadian public has only to blame themselves for this. Im not sure why Im commenting on this story as the anti police sentiment is so obvious. Nothing I will say can break through the " we are Canadian, and to that end we dont believe in dealing with violent acts or punishing our criminals" attitude. Maybe when tax payers continue to pay out frivulous law suits and see a rise in crime on their streets and actually become a victim of it, they may actually change their opinion. Until then, enjoy the society that we are creating..and if anything should go wrong, blame the police or govt..its what we're good at

Baz
ahahahaha... You guys are so funny, just think about it for a sec. If you were staying within the bounds of the law, there is absolutely no reason why a police officer will be facing you in any aggressive not, which means he/she won't be using a taser on you... But if you were breaking the law "which you shouldn't be doing!!" and you are threatening the public's and police officer's safety, which one would you rather be hit with, a 10 inch steel rod, or a taser that will just zapp you in order to stop... Just keep in mind, every single police officer that uses the taser has to feel the effects of it... which means they have to be tasered as well... and has anyone ever heard of a police officer dieing in training because he/she was tased?! Let them do their jobs, don't be a goof and get on the bad side of the law then the Police won't have to get involved, pretty simple really...

WO
Being in the Canadian Forces I was shocked by the use of taser element during the airport incident. Four RCMP trained on how to defend themselves could not or did not need such force in this incident. The judgement was poor and careless. But I do agree that tasers should be used, ONLY when the person useing them is fully aware of the potiential hazzards as we have all seen. You cannot tell me they were trained in such a way that forsight was used during this incident. We use a vast array of weopons in the Military and are always vigilent of the end result when used. I Honestly think being in the profession of arms that the RCMP needs better training when it comes to Tasers.

gerald
HOORAY< for Nettie, Curtis responses;
To the rest of the public, Quit whinning & support your police forces.
Tasers beat the hell out of .38 or .44 calibre bullet.
You dopes who want a "no force" police system, shut your face & join up let us see what you can do.

Ray Jacques, Glen Robertson, ON
I wonder how for so many years London police (bobbies) were ever able to cope with law-enforcement with only night sticks: - NO guns & NO Tasers.

If (5) police officiers employed by the RCMP cannot handle (1) man un-armed, newly arrived immigrant to Canada because they were Scared - something is wrong, even if the taser didn't kill him. They did not do their jobs. Further, they have no idea what their job is !!!

Didn't any of these people ever play football in school ? Don't they get paid to take risks (at least a little risk ?) Why else do we have them.

If they cannot do their jobs without tasering (very opainful experience) and even life threatening, these cops should get into a new profession - like knitting where there are fewer risks.

If I were these policemen, I would be ashamed of my outrageous actions against a new-arrival to Canada and expect to get the boot !!

Let's hire police who can use their heads on the job and handle simple situations WITHOUT killing people.

Good luck RCMP guys - I would not want to be in your shoes and I certainly hope to heaven that I never meet any of you "low-class chicken cops" for any reason, much less as over-armed and testerone crazed law-enforcement officers on the job in a similar innocent situation - nor would I imagine any of you wanting to ever meet this type of cop either = THINK ABOUT IT !
THIS HAS TO STOP !!!

Some terrible action do not need to be investigated to death - just common sense

richard von E
Cops are nuts about tasers. I had one reach for his taser because I argued with him about crossing the street. Granted, he didn't draw it, because I put my hands up and said, "Relax... I'll walk on the other side of the street." (Beeping) nuts!

Rick
To all you who oppose the use of Tasers....Your solution is? Didn't think so.

karra
Regardless of what the pro-police hounds tout, and naturally they do - there is in fact an in-use and well established Use of Force Continuum - what we see today are faux scared cops only too anxious to taser a person because, as they believe, it is not deadly.

We, the paying public, know this to not be the case - yet the brass, just as they did with gun control, continue to tout the benefits of tasering.

What ever happened to teaching and installing common sense into these flatfeet now earning in excess of 85k as a first-class constable status - sure they take risks but they knew that going in and now they are paid a lot of taxpayers loot to do just that.

Guess it's easier to taser some poor knob than talk him/her down. . . .

sigh...

Nate
Screw the taser. Use shotguns instead!! What's better people? I agree with the fellow who suggested that people who are not police officers get off there butts and show us all how to do their job better.

Alex (Toronto)
Here's what I don't know:

* What was the cause of death in the Dziekanski case?

* How often do Canadian police officers use conducted energy weapons?

* Why did RCMP officers use a Taser against Mr. Dziekanski, as opposed to a baton or pepper spray?

* Was Mr. Dziekanski offered a chance to surrender? (Pointing a weapon at him with one hand and pointing at the floor is an unambiguous request to surrender, regardless of any language barrier.)

* Why did RCMP officers not immediately call for medical attention when the man stopped responding?

* Why did Customs inform the victim's relative that he was not there? Do they not know who is entering Canada?

* Did anyone else feel chills at the casual way that "dying in custody syndrome" was described at the press conference? How common is this as a cause of death, what is the life expectancy of a person in custody, and has there been any research to determine if actions by the police contribute in any way to this "dying in custody" situation?

Police officers are obliged and permitted to use force in the conduct of their jobs. As such, they are held to a higher standard.

If in this case the RCMP can show that the officers had proper training, used proper judgement, followed defined procedures, and that the defined procedures were proven effective in such situations, then the officers should be commended for doing their difficult job. The press conference notwithstanding, I don't think they have shown this in this case.

karen in wl
really? regular training? either they know how to do their job or not, how would "refresher" courses help? sounds like another case of excuse making rather than dealing with the real issue at hand.
i am not against tasers, and i am certainly pro-police, however, bad police practises tarnish to whole organization and prevents GOOD police from doing their real job. time to move on and get to the tasks at hand.

Brad G - Edmonton
I cannot believe some of the comments that people are willing to put their name to. The Taser is used more than 99.9% of the time with no harm coming to the subject. People in those conditions do sometimes die during physical arrests as well, ask any Medical Examiner. Tasers have saved hundreds of lives, of both subjects, citizens and officers. Do you people have any idea what it is like to have to deal with people in the condition that most people are in when they are Tasered? If you want to police then get out there and put your fantastic theories to work, I would love to see it, you would change your mind in about ten minutes. Otherwise accept that you know absolutley nothing about what these men & women face and let them to do their job to the best of their ability.

Andrea
Why not use other physical restraining techniques?

Afterall, the police 50 years ago did not use tasers. They just used their sticks, etc

Also, it is a good way to cut down on costs.