Police take aim for more stun guns

Police groups want to arm more officers with stun guns while opposition MPs renew calls to restrict use of the controversial weapons.

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Police Association appeared in Ottawa yesterday to convince the public stun guns are essential tools that save lives.

"We are here to address the inaccurate and incomplete information that is circulating in the public related to the use of conducted energy weapons by police," said Thomas Kaye, vice-president of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

"There is no evidence, either scientific or medical, that a conducted energy weapon has been the direct cause of death anywhere, at any time, on any person."

Conducted energy weapons, such as the Taser, have been the subject of several inquiries after as many as 20 people in Canada, and more than 300 in the U.S., died shortly after being zapped with the device.

DZIEKANSKI INQUIRY

The Braidwood Commission in British Columbia is now probing the 2007 death of Robert Dziekanski. The Polish man became agitated after spending several hours in Vancouver airport and died shortly after being hit with stun guns by RCMP officers.

On Feb. 12, RCMP Commissioner William Elliott told the House of Commons standing committee on public safety and national security the RCMP reviewed its use of the weapon in light of incidents such as Dziekanski's.

"The RCMP's revised (stun gun) policy underscores that there are risks associated with the deployment of the device and emphasizes that those risks include the risk of death, particularly for acutely agitated individuals," Elliott said at the time.

But a document released by the police associations yesterday describes the stun gun as an "intermediate weapon," like pepper spray or a baton, and argues that all officers be authorized to carry one.

Opposition critics say the federal government should conduct a national review to establish guidelines for how the weapon is used before any more police get them.

"Our view is, until that is done, or until at least the results of the Braidwood Commission, there should be a moratorium on the use of Tasers," said Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh.

NDP public safety critic Jack Harris said any expansion of stun gun use before further study is "out to lunch."

A spokesman for Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan said the use of stun guns by forces other than the RCMP is not a federal matter.

"We would not presume to tell the provinces what to do," said Chris McCluskey.