Ottawa police officers will undergo more training in Taser use and will have to report use of the devices more often under new provincial guidelines given to municipal police forces earlier this month.
Ottawa police officers will now be required to submit a use of force report “whenever the member uses a conducted-energy-device (CEW) as demonstrated force presence,” or when there is an “overt display of the [device] with the intent to achieve compliance,” according to updated ministry of community safety and correctional services standards.
Officers were previously only required to fill out a report if the Taser was actually fired.
Officers will also undergo an additional four hours of training with CEWs under the new guidelines, bringing the total to 12.
The ministry made the changes to the guidelines three months after the province’s move to provide local police services more discretion over deciding which officers are permitted to carry CEWs. Formerly, the use of the device was restricted to specific officers and police teams.
Police services across Ontario overwhelmingly welcomed the announcement.
In a recent press release, Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau said CEWs “have been an effective option for officers involved in situations where use of force is necessary.”
Police forces in Toronto and Hamilton have also expressed their willingness to expand the use of CEWs among their ranks since the province gave municipal forces the go-ahead to equip more of their officers with the devices in August.
Andrew Morrison, a media relations representative with the ministry, says his department “has always taken a cautious and measured approach to the use of CEWs."
Morrison explained that increased training for officers includes scenario-based and judgment training, which includes de-escalation skills in conflict situations and interaction with persons suffering a mental illness.
“Police officers also receive training on responding to persons with mental illness that includes tactical communications, excited delirium syndrome awareness, rapport building and mediation, and the Mental Health Act,” Morrison says.
“As with all use-of-force options, adequate procedures, training and accountability mechanisms are necessary to ensure they are used effectively and appropriately.”
But some groups have expressed concern over the use of Tasers generally by city police, and are worried about Ontario’s increasing support for the technology in recent months.
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association urged police forces to invest more in facilitating mental health and disability crisis response teams, “rather than additional weaponry,” in a press release issued after the province’s August announcement.
“CCLA has long-standing concerns about the safety and appropriate uses of CEW’s,” says Sukanya Pillay, acting executive director with the organization.
“We recognize that in certain extreme cases there may be legitimate law enforcement uses of CEW’s, for example to prevent imminent harm or death.
However CCLA is also aware and seriously concerned that CEWs have been misused in the past.” The CCLA could not be reached for comment before publication.
The Canadian Mental Health Association pointed to evidence from other jurisdictions in the United States and British Columbia, showing that expanded use of CEWs has resulted in “usage creep” – and that Taser use may be a tool of first resort.
Although the association was encouraged to hear that amendments to use-of-force guidelines will now include specific training for interaction with people living with mental health issues, the release explained that individuals experiencing a serious mental illness are at higher-risk of heart-related health issues, a risk which “could be exacerbated by CEWs.”
Ottawa police had yet to allocate funds specifically for additional stun guns when they sent their budget to city council earlier this month, but a police report detailing future use of CEWs and recommended purchases will be submitted to the Ottawa Police Services Board early in 2014.
Police officers in Ottawa have had been equipped with the devices since 2000.