RCMP Watch

City hall’s protection committee has asked the Winnipeg Police Service to produce a public document that includes highlights of its Taser-use policy and details about how often the weapon is used.

Coun. Jenny Gerbasi made the request to acting police chief Doug Webster while he explained the policy and answered councillors’ questions about Tasers at yesterday’s committee meeting.

“We should be very transparent and accountable and make sure our policies are adequate,” Gerbasi said after the meeting. “It should be on the public record, what our policy is, so the public knows.”

The police service has 90 days to prepare a report.

Webster said he is not opposed to making the information public, but warned some of it may not be included because it may reveal the tactics police use in certain situations.

Webster said Winnipeg police officers have used Tasers 160 times this year.

In comparison, he said, Calgary officers have used their Tasers 80 times, while Edmonton officers have used theirs 250 times, although more officers in that city than in Winnipeg are equipped with the weapon.

Since Winnipeg police began using Tasers in 2006, there have been no reports of death or significant injury related to their use, Webster said.

There have been no substantiated allegations made about their use, he said.

Controversy and concerns about Tasers erupted following the Oct. 14 death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski. He died after he was shocked by RCMP at Vancouver’s airport. The cause of death was not determined.

Multiple investigations into the incident and the use of stun guns are ongoing in Canada.