Clara Ho, Edmonton, AB (Canwest News Service) - RCMP Commissioner William Elliott volunteered to be Tasered by his staff, the Mounties revealed on Friday.
Alberta Solicitor General Fred Lindsay and his parliamentary assistant Rob Anderson, were also tasered at the force’s Edmonton K Division headquarters. The three were on a tour of the division’s emergency response team on Thursday, which included a demonstration of the Taser, when Elliott was offered the chance to be zapped.
He agreed.
Lindsay and Anderson also volunteered and were given a jolt.
Each volunteer was given a five-second jolt of 50,000 volts at a low amperage, said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes.
Mounties standing on both sides supported each volunteer to make sure he didn’t fall down.
Elliott didn’t comment on being hit by the Taser.
But Lindsay said he volunteered because he felt it was important for him to have a first-hand understanding of the Taser’s effects.
Alberta’s guidelines for Taser use were drafted under his guidance, he said.
Lindsay said being Tasered was a “very intense, very incapacitating pain,” but it subsided within seconds.
“The purpose of the demonstration was to illustrate the effective but limited short-term effect of the Taser, and extremely rapid post-deployment recovery process,” Oakes said.
Using live test subjects is a component of Taser training, he added.
Taser use by police has been controversial in Canada, especially since Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski died after being Tasered at Vancouver International Airport last fall.
More than 300 deaths following stun gun use have been documented worldwide, 20 of them in Canada.
Despite claims that stun guns don’t harm internal organs such as the heart, Canadian researchers reported this week that, in fact, stun gun discharges are able to stimulate heart muscle under certain circumstances.
“In our view, it is inappropriate to conclude that stun gun discharges cannot lead to adverse cardiac consequences in all real-world settings,” Dr. Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar, of the University of Toronto, and colleagues reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), published online Thursday.
The researchers studied 150 discharges in six anesthetized pigs and found 74 of the discharges resulted in stimulation of the myocardium, or heart muscle.
In an accompanying editorial, CMAJ deputy editor Dr. Matthew Stanbrook said deaths occurring in association with Tasers “make the safety of these devices a public health issue.”
He said police should share information about their use, and that information should be analyzed by independent researchers, “on the principle that the assertion that Tasers have saved lives of police and suspects alike, while plausible, should be proven, not merely asserted as fact.”
“New and independent research, both epidemiologic and biological, into whether Tasers can kill is essential to settle this issue.”
The devices are used to physically incapacitate a person by discharging controlled electrical energy into the body.
The Toronto researchers found no conclusive evidence to show whether stun guns can cause erratic heartbeats some time after the stun gun discharge is complete.
16 responses so far ↓
1 NRF // May 4, 2008 at 00:29
The authorities play useless games with tasers in carefully controlled situations. A single short burst at low power is not necessarily how the weapon is used on the streets. Death and injury has indeed resulted when multiple high power hits were applied for times that went beyond an instant.
2 GetReal // May 4, 2008 at 20:45
And how do you know it was on low power? There is a setting for say 37%?? Five seconds is the standard hit? More armchair presumptive quarterbacking by the ill informed. Maybe they should have pumped him full of cocaine and heroin and then zapped him. Oops, you would have an answer for that to wouldn’t you? Not enough cocaine….
There are consequences for every type of force used on the human body from punches, joint locks, to real bullets. Maybe one should try not to get involved with the bull and then you would not get the horns. Perhaps they could be subdued with a dose of the incessant whining.
3 freedom55 // May 5, 2008 at 01:39
The taser’s that the RCMP are the m-26 and x-26, Both have 50,000 volts of electricity at a low amperage. You can not adjust the amperage or the voltages just the amount of time. Each burst last 5 seconds, the trigger has to be pressed again to get another burst. The Taser can be shut off at any time during the five second burst
4 NRF // May 5, 2008 at 03:46
Years ago, departments believed that women were incapable of serving because they lacked the strength and aggressiveness necessary to manage criminals. Additionally, they knew aboriginals could not be trusted as peace officers, that Asians were too short and that Sikhs could not wear a proper uniform. This wisdom produced almost all white, male departments that did not reflect communities being policed.
Eventually, political masters dictated different ways to staff the forces and new methods of policing evolved. Successful female officers demonstrated that wit and wisdom was more effective than a hard right cross.
Unfortunately, we still have a number of peace officers who think that violence is an acceptable early response in many circumstances. We have the Dziekanski case where about ten police and security personnel did not try to control one agitated and unarmed man, without applying a number of extended taser hits, including while he was constrained on the floor with officers on top of him. In addition to that outrage, RCMP prevented provision of immediate medical attention to the dying man. That was machismo run mad.
There have been more than 300 deaths after the use of stun guns by North American police and prison officers. Some of the victims were mentally ill, some were drug abusers, some had heart or other health problems. Statistics, which police are reluctant to provide, generally demonstrate increased use of electroshock weapons, not to defend officers from serious harm, but to punish targeted individuals or to encourage compliance. Thus, we have transit police in BC using tasers on fare evaders.
The first effort of police should be to calm a situation. They should not assume that a mentally ill person is a violent person and they should use non-lethal take-down methods wherever possible. I believe that most Canadian police officers agree with the above. I can only hope they will not tolerate the few who do abuse this weapon.
Rather than police officials conducting useless PR stunts, they should be ensuring that appropriate rules of use are established in cooperation with independent medical experts, not wit the quasi-experts provided by sales executives of the weapon manufacturer.
5 J-rebel // May 6, 2008 at 01:03
to : NRF: Obviously you are someone who does not work in the field. If you did or if you saw what actually happens at some events you would realize that sometimes there is no choice as there is no respect for police anymore, and peolpe with “armchair” responses like yours, just make it worse. A Taser voltage or amperage cannot be changed and due to poor wordsmithing by the writer of the article, it offers a door to a challenge by the “not in the know” like yourself. People break laws and the police respond as best as they can in very high stress situations, so next time you need the police call the SPCA, or Santa Clause instead, see where that gets you!
6 NRF // May 6, 2008 at 17:03
J-rebel demonstrates my point. The writer believes that “not in the know” outsiders should not question police actions. Where does that principle end?
Taser use on a transit fare evader, a double-parked deliveryman, a bratty child or anyone else deserving of punishment may be inadequate. Why not shoot them? That would provide a more permanent solution. And, whatever a peace officer decides is appropriate, no one should question the decision afterward.
By the way, ask a nurse or physician in cardiac intensive care if high voltage electricity has any effect on the heart or nervous system. Fortunately, when medical staffs use those devices, they are thoroughly trained and working under controlled circumstances.
I do not argue about the need occasionally to use sub-lethal force but officers should never use it carelessly or when alternatives are available. Electroshock merely for punishment is always unacceptable.
Taser use is not unlike occurrences of high-speed vehicles chases. Countless innocent people dead or injured demanded a policy change. J-rebel probably considered civilians unqualified to comment on that subject as well.
7 GetReal // May 6, 2008 at 18:00
I hate to burst your bubble NFR, but the RCMP has employed Japanese, Chinese, Natives, Blacks, etc., for many many years. If you have traveled Canada for any length of time you would have observed this fact. And not only recently with the government driven directives. As far as the taser is concerned your information is scant and incorrect. Perhaps you should tune into the ongoing inquiry being held in BC which is going through the scientific facts.
8 freedom55 // May 6, 2008 at 23:39
NRF calls the people being tasered “fare evaders” and “double parked delivery drivers”. That is not an accurate dipiction. The fare evasion and double parking are the offences that brought these fine citizens to the attention of the police. The resistant or combative actions they displayed well dealing with the police is the reason they were tasered.
9 J-rebel // May 7, 2008 at 00:44
NRF: Just so you know, I am a civilian. Now, I’m not saying that there are no alternatives and that the police should not have to answer the tough questions on use of force when asked, but YOU demonstrate my point exactly. You shout before you talk, your making a stand without gathering the facts. To pass premature judgement about taser deaths before knowing the facts from public inquiries is delinquent and irresponsible on your part, and, since when was the Taser classed as “Sub-Lethal”? What to hell is “Sub-Lethal” anyways? I would guess you believe the police should just go in fists-a-blazin’ and wrestle every “coked-out” bad guy to the ground without incident, or better yet, maybe all these bad guys just need a “Big hug”. Maybe you need a few days in the field to actually see what goes on out there, as a matter of fact, almost every police force in Canada is hiring so maybe you should dust off your resume and join up so you can teach us all the “better way” to police everyone. If you study up you will see that Tasers have prevented more deaths than they have caused, and remember that you only hear the “Pimped-up” version of the News hour so you will listen, it’s not always the “true facts”. I would like to see you explain to the “bad-guys” mom or dad thast the police had to shoot their kid because too many bleeding hearts have squashed a Less lethal use of force weapon, or call the police officers family and tell them that there loved one has been hurt in an altercation because he did not want to shoot someone because lets face it, we’re all humans with feelings here, and the guy that chooses a weapon, whatever it may be, has to live with the outcome. Good or Bad.
10 NRF // May 7, 2008 at 03:35
This comment thread began by reference to the zero demonstration value of a single Taser strike administered to non-critical body part of a calm person, prepared for the event. The absence of adrenalin overload is highly significant.
Police had little objective scientific knowledge of electroshock weapons when these devices became de rigueur. Today, there is only slightly more information, most tainted by commercial interest.
In further comments, I stated that violence is too often the preferred response of some officers when situation calming is the needed alternative. Police routinely refuse to give the public full, timely and honest information about the uses or threatened uses of force.
A further point I made is that law enforcement does not reliably opt for enlightened behaviour. I described the status of women and minorities in police forces some years ago. If you think the comments erroneous, you lack knowledge of history. Even with active discrimination made illegal in the 70s, passive discrimination continued so that significant integration of police was delayed for almost 20 years.
Frankly, we cannot trust police agencies alone to make judgements about the appropriate use of devices and weapon systems. If you think otherwise, I welcome your reasoned disputations.
11 God Rocks // May 7, 2008 at 14:54
By what I have been reading here, I guess it`s not good to question the actions of certain police forces. They get pretty defensive and critical at anything that points out that they are below average in their decission making and in their work, some of them speak like a bunch of spoiled children who won`t let go of their be-be guns even after the police come at the house and tell the parents they are being careless in it`s use.
About the Commissioner; I have seen the test Taser International does to show people that their taser is safe, but I have yet to see a REAL TEST like what happens in the field when 3-4 heavy set police officers come in and they are ugly about having to work.
A real test would have FEAR attached to it not HUGS by fellow POLICE OFFICERS with a guarantee that nothing will happen.
A real test for the COMMISSIONER or anyone else that would like to line up and try would be something like this.
Three to Four bikers or family members who have lost loves ones and are angry in a place of dispair and with no moral or police support what so ever and no medical personel on standby in case something goes wrong with multiple jolts not just one.
1- Mean bikers the commissioner can`t trust.
2- The fear and intimidation factor with zero hope in sight.
3- No hugs and no police interference
4- No medical personel or taser personel on standby.
And you can add some of the others I missed happens when police are dispatched to taser someone.
I hope this helps some of the officers understand and the Commissioner understand that is such a case all the above factors play an important role in how the individual is assessed by police later as EXCITED DELIRUM or someone who just doesn`t want to DIE.
Try it folks you might even like the feeling.
12 GetReal // May 7, 2008 at 17:31
“Years ago, departments believed that women were incapable of serving because they lacked the strength and aggressiveness necessary to manage criminals. Additionally, they knew aboriginals could not be trusted as peace officers, that Asians were too short and that Sikhs could not wear a proper uniform.” So says NRF in the second post and “I described the status of women and minorities in police forces some years ago. ” So says NRF in the third post.
You may have described the status, but you did so inaccurately. Your reference to Sikhs dates you. You are probably not aware how long the Vancouver Police Department has had women in its ranks.
The standards set years ago for the police departments were subsequently modified or eliminated with various laws with respect to physical descriptors, etc. The demographics also played a part in that society was not as diverse as it is today. To damn every department with a passive discrimination label based on supposition is uneducated, and unfair.
God Rocks, your post is unintelligible.
13 J-rebel // May 8, 2008 at 01:07
NRF WRITES “This comment thread began by reference to the zero demonstration value of a single Taser strike administered to non-critical body part of a calm person, prepared for the event. The absence of adrenalin overload is highly significant. ”
I ask; Have you been tasered??? I highly doubt it the way you talk. I have been more than once, and I know what to expect.
If you think there is a “Absence of adrenalin” you are sadly mistaken pal, Every time I have been tasered, and again I repeat -No hugs, no medical personal, no limited voltage or amperage or duration, and I may add tackled by several policemen afterwards and placed in handcuffs for demonstration purposes, I was no worse for wear!
It is an effective tool utilized properly by the majority of police officers trained to use it.
No one every needs to be harmed by anyone, but to cast blame on police because of your tainted “Media-inspired” views is “uneducated and unfair” (thanks Get real).
I would love to know where you get your facts?
Please show me!
A single taser strike is usually all that is administered. The problem lies in the Drug indused, super exited, body of the recipient.
I guess if police have to stop the use of force on people because someone might get hurt then I guess we need to stop serving liquor at public events because people might get drunk and get into a fight??
I would like to see NRF control someone who’s suffering from exited delirium!
And I agree with Get Real, God rocks your post is unintelligible.
14 NRF // May 8, 2008 at 03:22
Sorry, but the research supports what I stated about delayed integration of departments. That didn’t really happen until a new generation of leaders coaxed the forces into compliance, almost 2 decades after passage of legislation. Yes, there have been female and visible minority police officers in Canada since early in the last century. However, the numbers were tiny and duties restricted. That has changed rather gradually.
By example, Winnipeg Police Service admits that in 1992, it was still unusual to see women on the “front line.” Currently, women make up 14% of sworn officers in that city. Toronto advertises their present ratio of female officers as 12% (more than 50% of clerical staff though). Vancouver boasts about 25% of policing staff is female. Still some way to go for many departments, I guess.
Incidentally, research also shows that women are very effective patrol officers who, in general, rely less on violence in conflict situations. Men too, when working with a female partner, are less likely to be involved in violent encounters.
This does connect with my main points. I accept that most officers do their work without unnecessary violence. However, in the same way that police institutions tolerated passive discrimination long after it became illegal, they protect members who use excessive force. That has a significant cost in public trust and leads to the widespread belief that stun guns are weapons of concern. Public trust further deteriorates when tainted science justifies the weaponry.
The Arizona Republic - …Taser has repeatedly characterized research that its own employees or consultants helped conduct or write as independent. The company has also paid training fees and given valuable stock options to police officers involved in decisions to purchase the stun guns. ..
By example, Victoria Police Sgt. Darren Laur was employed by, and accepted financial benefits from, Taser International. This conflict of interest may have compromised Sgt. Laur’s contribution to writing the “Taser Technology Review” for the Office of the BC Police Complaint Commissioner.
The Taser is a device that can be, and is, misused. A Canadian Press story today reports:
Kevin Begg, assistant deputy minister for the B.C. Solicitor General’s Ministry, said police officers seem to be moving too quickly to use force rather than trying to calm the situation.
The Taser was never meant to be used as a compliance weapon, he said, and the government had been contemplating changes even before a man died at Vancouver’s airport last year.
“Our view is that Taser needs to be up further on the continuum (of force) and should be used on the assaultive level.”
One popular statement is that Taser use saves lives because, were they not available, police would deploy guns or other impact weapons. Consider. RCMP claims that they have ’saved’ 4,000 Canadians from shootings by using the taser in recent years. We are expected to believe the RCMP would have shot 4,000 more people in recent years if Tasers were not used? No wonder they don’t want outsiders examining their weapon statistics.
This is my final comment on this thread. I will even
pass on the May 4th RCMP tasering of an 82 year old mental patient in a Kamloops hospital bed.
A critic above suggests that I am not factually correct in various assertions and that I rely on “Pimped Up” TV news for information. No J-rebel, I do not watch TV News but I can point you to a few alternate sources of information:
Breaking the Brass Ceiling: Women Police Chiefs and Their Paths to the Top / Schulz, Dorothy Moses. Wesport, CN, USA: Praeger. HV 8023 Sch8b 2004
Equality Denied: The Status of Women in Policing: 2001 / National Center for Women & Policing. Los Angeles, Calif., USA: National Center for Women & Policing. HV 8023 Eq2 2002
Être policière: une profession masculine / Beauchesne, Line. Montreal, Q.C., Cdn: Éditions Cursus universitaires. HV 8023 B38 2001
Female Officers with the Ontario Provincial Police Leave Their Mark in Police Culture / Young, Debra. Orillia, Ont., Cdn: Ontario Provincial Police. HV 8023 Y8 2000
La police pour les policières?: les vrais défis de l’institution / LeBeuf, Marcel-Eugène. Ottawa, Ont., Cdn: Centre de recherche, Collège canadien de police. HV 8023 L49p 1999
Performance of Female Police Officers in a Male Dominated Environment / Bezuidenhout, Christiaan. Pretoria RSA: Department of Criminology, University of Pretoria. HV 8023 B46 2001
Recruiting and Retaining Women: A Self-Assessment Guide for Law Enforcement / National Center for Women & Policing; Bureau of Justice Assistance. Los Angeles, Calif., USA: National Center for Women & Policing. HV 8023 R24 2000
The Representation of Women Officers: Specialist Roles / Pettman, Elizabeth; Great Britain Police Research Group. London, GB: Home Office, Police Dept. HV 8023 P45 1996
Top Cops: Profiles of Women in Command: Leading, Succeeding, Mentoring: America’s Top Ranking Women in Law Enforcement Share Their Inspiring Stories / Gold, Marion E. Chicago, Ill., USA: Brittany Publications. HV 7911 A1 G56 1999
Women in Policing: The Experience of Female Police Chiefs and Deputy Police Chiefs / Wells, Sandra Kay. USA. HV 8023 W46 2001
Women in Public and Private Law Enforcement / Scarborough, Kathryn E.; Collins, Pamela A. Boston, Mass., USA: Butterworth-Heinemann. HV 8023 Sca7 2002
Women and Men Police Officers: Status, Gender, and Personality / Gerber, Gwendolyn L. Westport, Conn., USA: Praeger. HV 8009 G31 2001
Women Police: Portrait of Success / Lunneborg, Patricia. New York, NY, USA: iUniverse. HV 8023 L97w 2004
Women’s Journey into Policing / Slaughter, Cori; Ottawa Police Service. Cdn. HV 8023 SL1 2003
Think these are pimped out sources too?
15 J-rebel // May 8, 2008 at 14:19
A quick reply as I know NRF will no longer comment I will say little more as well.
1.) Typically, you have taken this to the literal maximum, 4000 more shootings? No one ever suggested that all these Taser uses would have resulted in shootings.
2.) The tasering of an 82 year old in a hospital bed…… Ooohhh…sounds sinister doesn’t it…… the fact of the matter was , is that this 82 year old was having a aggresive mental episode (the family’s words) and was threatening staff with a Swiss army knife. need I say more?
3.) All of your resources listed are about or written by women , once again a one sided opinion.
4.) Women do nothing in the field to change a response when violence is imminent with or without a male officer.
You are right, your sources are not pimped out, but they are bias.
16 Deepthroat // May 8, 2008 at 17:46
7 American references. Nothing better than quoted for Canada? Hardly authoritative.
Your comments about Asians etc., are demeaning and reflect your prejudices not that of any law enforcement body.
Tasers are just a tool. They can be misused like anything else when you deal with people. I can live with the tiny fraction of lethality.
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