Renato Gandia, Edmonton, Alberta (Sun Media) – City cops are not using Tasers as much as they used to, says police Chief Mike Boyd.
And that’s partly due to policy changes made in early 2006, he said.
This year, Tasers have been used 69 times by Edmonton cops.
That compares to 139 times in 2006 and 253 times in 2005.
“It says to me that we have found a way to reduce the use of the Taser and along with that we have a significant reduction in complaints associated with its use,” Boyd said last night after an Edmonton Police Commission meeting.
VANCOUVER DEATH
The Taser debate has been re-ignited following the death last month of 40-year-old Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, who collapsed at the Vancouver International Airport shortly after being Tasered by RCMP officers.
The incident was videotaped by a bystander and broadcast around the world.
Every time an Edmonton cop uses the Taser, it must be immediately reported to the staff sergeant, who is then required to attend the scene, said Boyd.
He explained that’s one of the policy changes that has helped to reduce Taser use. The duty officer also must go to the scene immediately, he said.
DATA DOWNLOADED
The data in the Taser is then downloaded immediately to a computer to reveal several bits of information, including how many times it was deployed.
“Because of the way we’re monitoring that along with our training and guidance of our supervisors, we attribute all those factors to the reduction,” Boyd said.
There are no plans to eliminate the use of the Taser, he added.
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