New RCMP Policy Limits Taser Use

The RCMP have a new policy that restricts tasers and recognizes they can cause death especially when fired on "acutely agitated" individuals.

RCMP Commissioner William Elliott has announced the RCMP is restricting how officers can use Tasers through a new policy. It recognizes the stun guns can cause death, especially when fired on "acutely agitated" individuals. Elliott outlined the policy shift on the devices known as conductive energy weapons, or CEWs, as he spoke to the House of Commons public safety committee in Ottawa. "The RCMP's revised CEW policy underscores that there are risks associated with the deployment of the device and emphasizes that those risks include the risk of death particularly for acutely agitated individuals," Elliott told the committee. Taser International makes virtually all the stun guns currently being used by police forces and has said its products — which are intended to incapacitate people with an electric shock — have a higher safety margin than Tylenol. An officer is now only permitted to use a stun gun if he or she is in physical danger or the public is in danger. Prior to the change police were instructed to follow the standard use-of-force framework, which outlines when certain approaches are warranted. RCMP officials have previously said the previous policy meant an officer can use his or her own discretion to decide when to deploy a Taser. The policy is meant to stop police from shocking people who are simply refusing to follow officers' orders. RCMP officers are still required to report each stun gun firing or threat to fire, as well as to justify the use as a reasonable and necessary response to a threat to an officer or to public safety. Another change is now officers will refresh stun gun training each year instead of every two years. The all-party committee's call to reclassify the stun gun as an impact weapon is not included. The reason is that it is already considered a prohibited firearm with clear policy restrictions for its use. He insisted the contentious weapons save lives. The Braidwood Inquiry has been looking at the use of Tasers and circumstances surrounding Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski's death. The Inquiry will continue to examine the use of the weapons by municipal police, SkyTrain police, sheriffs and corrections officials in the second phase of the public hearing.