Regina police members will be carrying Tasers while out on city streets, as of Friday.
The weapons were suspended by the Saskatchewan Police Commission in 2007 following the high-profile death of Robert Dziekanski at the Vancouver airport.
“I know personally speaking, I’ve used a Taser prior to it being pulled in 2007, and there was an incident where if I didn’t have a CEW, it would have been a lethal force situation,” said Sgt. Derek Lamer with Regina police.
Regina police officers are trying to fight the stigma behind Tasers and want the public to feel safe. The service is investing about $190,000 to train officers and purchase 110 CEWs (Conducted Energy Weapons), commonly known as Tasers.
So far about 80 officers are authorized to use the weapons and by the end of May, all 330 members will be trained to carry them on the job.
“In the world we live in, you never know what kind of situation you’re going to go to. So the more tools you have in your tool belt, the more options you have,” said Lamer.
The new training has an increased focus on verbal communication: “Identifying target areas, which is people that are emotionally disturbed, elderly people, young children and how to talk to these people and how to de-escalate,” said Lamer.
The weapons come with a built-in computer system that records the length and time of deployment, increasing accountability.
“Anytime the weapon is discharged or pointed at someone, a report will be completed,” said Regina’s police chief Troy Hagen.
Since January, a handful of SWAT team members were allowed to use CEWs.
Last weekend, police used a Taser on a 34-year-old man who was deemed a danger to himself. The incident was the first time the weapon was used in Regina since Saskatchewan’s five-year moratorium came to an end.
Comments