Man dies 30 hours after being Tasered by police

The province of Nova Scotia will review the use of Tasers after a man with psychiatric problems died at a Dartmouth correctional facility, 30 hours after being shocked by police.

Justice Minister Cecil Clarke ordered the review after the death of 45-year-old Howard Hyde, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Hyde's common-law wife, Karen Ellet, told CTV Atlantic that she was shocked by her husband's death.

"I'm trying to hold myself together right now," she said.

Ellet said Hyde was a "good man," but was not taking his medication when he was arrested early Wednesday.

She said Hyde had become violent and forced her to call police.

Halifax's regional deputy police chief warned the public not to jump to conclusions on what role the use of a Taser had in the death.

"It's premature to draw any conclusion that the Taser contributed to this man's death," chief Tony Burbridge told reporters in Halifax. He said the medical examiner needs time to first investigate the cause of death.

Burbridge said the man was Tasered shortly after being taken into custody.

"While he was being fingerprinted he attempted to jump over the counter in booking and flee the police department," said Burbridge. "The man struggled violently with our officers who tried to subdue him. They were unable to get him under control and a Taser was deployed."

The man continued to struggle with officers and was eventually brought under control but went into medical distress. Burbridge said he received first aid and was hospitalized for two or three hours, before being released back into police custody.

The man then appeared in court on Wednesday and was later remanded to the Central N.S. Correctional Facility in Dartmouth where he died Thursday morning.

Ellet said she thought Hyde should have been left in hospital longer than he was.

"I feel he should have stayed in the hospital, been medicated, get stable and get some counseling and some serious rehabilitation," said Ellet.

Hyde's sister told The Canadian Press that he had been shocked by a Taser gun in 2005, and had developed a "terrible fear" of them.

Joanna Hyde said he believed the incident had left him with heart problems.

"I think that the use of Tasers on my brother was unnecessary in any instance,'' she said from Shelburne, N.S. "He was unarmed and he was not a very big person."

Burbridge warned of drawing conclusions about the man's death since he died approximately 30 hours after being Tasered.

He said he supported the decision to use a Taser, made by officers during the "violent struggle."

Shorly after the death on Thursday, Clarke announced he had ordered the ministerial review into the use of Tasers.

"I have ordered Police Services officials in my department to immediately begin a review of policies and procedures regarding Taser use in Nova Scotia," said Clarke.

The review will examine Taser practices of authorized users in the province, including law enforcement, corrections and sheriffs, he said.

"At the same time, RCMP are being called in to investigate the circumstances of the death at the correctional facility and I understand Halifax Regional Police will also have the RCMP conduct an external investigation into the arrest," said Clarke.

"I also want to offer my condolences to the family at this difficult time."

Clarke said a moratorium on Taser use in Nova Scotia wasn't necessary.

Opposition parties agreed, but called for a broader review of the use of Tasers

RCMP investigation

On Wednesday, the chairman of a Mountie watchdog group looking into Taser use by police in Canada said he was concerned the electronic stun guns were being overused.

Paul Kennedy is the head of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP and is investigating the death of Robert Dziekanski.

Dziekanski died at Vancouver International Airport in October after arriving from Poland.

He was held in a secure area of the airport for about 10 hours and became agitated.

The Mounties were called in, confronted Dziekanski, and Tasered him less than 30 seconds after they arrived. Dziekanski died shortly afterwards.

The incident was recorded by a witness, who released the video to the public earlier this month.

In December, Kennedy is expected to report back on his investigation to Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day. Kennedy has said the four officers involved in the takedown of Robert Dziekanski could face criminal charges.

Kennedy is also looking into another incident involving the Mounties and the use of a Taser on a suspect. On Monday in Chilliwack, B.C., police used a Taser, pepper spray and batons in an attempt to subdue a 36-year-old man. He was listed in critical condition in hospital on Wednesday.

Day is expected to release a report by Friday about the Canadian Border Service Agency's role in Dziekanski's detention at Vancouver Airport.

With a report from CTV Atlantic's Marc Patrone

Comments are now closed for this story

Concerned
said

In response to one person's remarks, when I got taser trained, you get tasered, so most of the police members you see with a taser, have been tasered. Just like with the pepper spray, we have all been sprayed and understand the effects of it. I have been in about 10 taser situations and each time, it was the ONLY option, after pain compliance, arrest tactics and pepper spray failed....Some people get out of control and this tool is effective in keeping my fellow members and myself safe.

Agata
said

All RCMP officers who carry a Tazer, have been Tazered themselves. That makes for a lot of Tazer deployments, all effective and non-lethal. Recent events have put a black cloud on an otherwise life saving tool.

Front Line
said

The whole issue about the use of the CEW(Conducted Energy Weapon) has been brought to a National Spotlight, stemming from recent occurences. What people have to realize is the CEW is a LESS LETHAL DEVICE. People should not confuse the terms. You hear many media reports stating that the CEW or Taser is a Non-Lethal device, and they argue the fact that it supposedly kills people...and take issue with it being called a Non Lethal Weapon....Its a Less Lethal Device......Other posts that you see is how the CEW is being deployed. All RCMP officers are trained with these devices and have to follow a Intervention Model. If you are RESISTANT to a police officer commands, or demands, a force intervention option is the CEW, also available is the OC spray, and hand controls......So, that being said, if you increase the subjects behaviour to a COMBATIVE behaviour; intervention options are Baton, and all of the above......So bottom line, when ppl are saying that Police officers are using the CEW as a 'compliance' tool....well, thats whats its designed for. We are fully justified in using in.

People who critize from the outside have months and months to come up with a judgement against these police officers....Police officers have only mere seconds to make a decision and to subdue these subjects...police officers want to go home at the end of their shift to see their loved ones....

Sue
said

I'd just like to point out that many posts here are relying on a very obvious logical fallacy (ie: false dilemma). Some people are saying it is either a choice between tasers or guns when clearly these two options are not the only ones that our police force have. Please take that into consideration when before you start arguing that tasers are the best choice.

As for the taser incident with Dziekanski, airport staff and security should have tried to get a translator for the man. I mean it IS an international airport...have they never dealt with language barriers before?!

Ashley
said

After hearing about the Dziekanski incident, I have been extensively researching the subject on my own, and have found more than several incidents where police officers inappropiately used their tasers. Such as an incident in the UK where police tasered a comatose man on the back of a bus. He was a diabetic and in a hypoglycemic state!

As for the Dziekanski incident, he was apparently not a threat to police officers, so there was no instigation for the use of a taser. I've watched the video countless times during my research, and found no such indication of him trying to reach for a "stapler." After he was tasered, he was convulsing on the floor, and they tasered him yet again. While Dziekanski was lying beneath the officer, it does appear that he was tasered another time.

I do not condone the act of taking away the tasers, but proper training should be in order constantly. Not just during their training, but even after they have been protecting our streets for years. I aslo believe the use of tasers a rather appropiate and necessary one. It is just when officers use them to subdue a rather passive person, that I condemn the use of these devices.

There ARE police officers who do not follow by the rules and abuse their powers, you cannot deny that. Perhaps those officers were just the sort? But as I said you cannot deny the fact there are police officers out there who will taser a "subdueable" target.

To hold your own accounts against another person, is pompous and unhelpful. Just because there are no accounts of someone dying with the direct cause being a taser "gun" or you have been tasered and survived rather well, does NOT mean that it has not happened. Police officers are meant to be tough and fit in order to protect the law. Someone who is of same age and height can be a lot mroe frail and brittle and may not be able to withstand what police officers are able to.
Although, I am still trying to find the exact cause of Dziekanski's death, I do believe that the police officers only worsened the situation and did not follow correct protocol.(sp?)

Jason Toronto
said

Thank you Tim for shedding some professional light to some armchair critics. To those people making comments against the story did you not read it properly. The suspect jumped a desk and was physically fighting with police in a police station to boot this sounds pretty last resort to me! Furthermore no one knows what he died of yet so don't make accusations without the facts!!!!

John Chow
said

Until you come to a situation where you have to discharge your gun, Taser should Not be used.

Ask the Police whether he would fire their gun at this situation, you will get the answer.

Taser is Not a control mechanism, & should be treated stickly as a replacement for a Gun.

Ask offers to sweat out in a gym for an hour or so & get a taste of Taser, then you know the true effect of every agitated person.

Richard
said

A number of years ago my cousin got drunk and picked a fight with a police officer. He spend "hard time" in hospital before going to prison. Ever the macho sort, he started fights with officers two more times. Each fight meant more hospital and prison time.
The availability of the taser actually provides the officer a more gentle option. After all, lets say you've hit a free shot to the nose of a (now hurt and enraged) police officer. Would you rather be neutralized by his taser, or be pounded into unconsciousness by his baton, fists and boots?

derek
said

Bruce says that every RCMP officer in training actually gets tasered. However, there is a big difference in being tasered for less than one second and the FULL deployment of five seconds used on the less fortunate.

Terry Joyce
said

The Taser web site discusses the X26 Taser often shown by the media pictures and states that one of its advanced features is that it has 'Even greater stopping capability than the Taser M26' which is defined as a law enforcement model. Is this ramp up in power too much?

Don't be so quick to judge!
said

FYI
Anything in the wrong hands could be weapon, especially a metal object! What if he hit another passenger over the head with that stapler, while the RCMP tried to communicate with the irate, non-english speaking man? You'd all be screaming that they didn't react quick enough. Most tools are used as a last resort, but sometimes they need to be used as preventative measure! This is a sad situation that highlights many failures, but the RCMPs use of the TASER isn't one of them.

Denis
said

One week people can't understand why a mountie gets shot; next week people can't understand why a mountie isn't willing to sacrifice his body to control a 200+ pound man who may be under the effects of a drug or withdrawal from alcohol.
It's too easy to pass judgement from your TV or even 50 feet away holding a cell phone camera.

rob
said

It's interesting to read all the testimonials above from policemen and former policemen, each of whom survived a tazing during training and find it a far more humane weapon.
That may indeed be the case but it would be interesting to get a reaction from the 17 dead Canadian tazer victims. Subdue and restrain tactics as used by police (and hotdog bar bouncers) are lethal.
It may be that psychological counciling and assessment of individual officers as well as better training and trainers would provide part of the answer.

Mr. Hockey
said

It's amazing how police officers managed to subdue unarmed people BEFORE the advent of tasers, but now, they somehow require them to perform their jobs.

Gail
said

Let's remember that the police put their lives on the line for us everyday. They need to have and use the tools available to them to control and subdue violent agressive individuals to protect us and themselves.

If you do not wish to be tasered, do not act in a violent or agressive manner with police and you will be safe.

Canadian
said

Tasers must be banned outright. The taxpayers will continue to pick up the bill for the lawsuits that are incurred for the improper use of this deadly weapon by police.

Indeed some people are not cooperative during an arrest; does that justify killing them if there are vulneralbe to the affects of being tasered? Many people fear the actions of police officers in Canada.

It is my opinion that no justification can be presented that would permit the use of this barbaric weapon.

I really sympathize with police in some of the situations, but there has to be a better way.

Thomas Leroux
said

No matter the actual cause of death, there appears to be a relationship between Tasers and deaths - which we should examine.

If suspects who are on drunk or are high are more likely to die from being shot with a taser, perhaps the rules of use for the taser need to be examined.

Geoff
said

Before we all go crazy on the RCMP and other police forces, let's consider the following. If the two young RCMP officers who recently died tragically in the north had tasered the guys who killed them and the bad guys had died, would we now be calling for those officers to be up on charges for having acted rashly and without justification?

Policing always requires assessment of risk, and this is still an imprecise science.

Dave
said

Have also been tasered as part of my Taser User and Instructor training and survived. Maybe when I die in 50 years the press can say my death is "Taser Related", from being tasered when I was 41.
And to Ron, if someone is threatening with a gun or knife, the Taser isn't even a consideration without lethal backup; my pistol is out.

Enough is enough
said

As it was once stressed to me by a Police Defensive Tactics trainer. Every call a Police Officer goes to involves a firearm whether or not the 'bad guy' has one or not. That is because the officer has one attached to his hip. I don't know how many fights all the armchair critics have been in before but all it takes is that one lucky punch for an officer to be knocked unconcious. Then there is a major concern as the officers sidearm could very easily become a 'bad guys' firearm. Police officers are obviously trained to realize these possibilities. Sometimes using what the officers were told was a safe tool (Taser) is the best alternative to a physical altercation (Even though there are people who have never been in a fight in their lives nor are knowledged in use of force models being so adamentally vocal about this). If there is a problem with the taser then maybe that needs to be looked at and not the actions of our diligent Police officers. To those who oppose....Did you have to put on a bullet proof vest when you went to work today just in case someone tried to shoot you?

A. Bica
said

Everyone here has missed the point.

It's not whether the taser can kill. It's not whether it's an effective instrument for police use.
The real issue is that There's no way of knowing whether the person to be tasered is in such a medical state to survive it.

Clearly people are dying after having been tasered so it makes sense that unless police know their medical condition before they take the taser to them they'd better not use it because if people die then they might just as well be shooting them, unarmed or otherwise!

Donna
said

Do the tasers have different voltage settings? And if so, in RCMP training are they set at a lower voltage than they would be for an officer on duty?

Allan M
said

Whether or not tasers should be used is an issue that, at the least, is difficult to decypher. But one fact remains in regard to this article: The RCMP are losing the trust of the Canadian people. I'm less apt to believe the police account given the 'mistruths' discovered in other situations (Remember Montebello? )

I believe a special court order should be required for the police to intentionally give out misinformation. At least then it would be legally recorded, and if the 'misinformation' wasn't warrented, there would be a way to hold someone accountable.

Tristan
said

The problem is not the 'tools of the trade' it's the fact that now days there are both men and women in the forces who if are put in and kind of situation with a much much larger person they have no way of controlling them. Way back i remember police officers being 6' and bigger and over 200lbs+ and they would give the offender a snap in the nose before a taser shot

Mike
said

Tasering a man or woman who is training in Depot or any other training facility is not the same a tasering John Q Public. Presumably the people being trained are in a state of peak fitness...John Q. Public???

I know I was subjected to challenges when I took my military training that might kill me today.

A few RCMP Commissioners, Police Chiefs or Politicians might be people more representative of the ability of John Q. Public to handle a taser assault. Perhaps they would demonstrate how safe it is for us.

Sandy
said

Most of us making these comments are not police officers and nor do we know what kinds of pressure and people they face on an daily basis.
Why don't we all put ourselves in the same real life situation as the police officers were when they used the taser and see what are reaction would be. Imaging the siutation in your head and being in it in real life are two completly different things.

Andy
said

Well, RCMPs are tasered with care in a training "get set, 1, 2, 3, you ready - go.". Let do this with a more realistic way such as trying tazer 2 times in 30 seconds, or taser after a jog or a workout which would simulate the more realistic scenario.

KK
said

For starters, I was tasered for a newspaper story when our city police received theirs. I was calm and two officers held me up. It was only a five second shock and IT HURT LIKE HELL, so I do know what it feels like.
With that said I think the way tasers and their use should be re-evaluated, not banned. I was all for tasers as a less-lethal alternative to guns, but after the Canadian Press released a story regarding the number of incidents involving non-armed suspects (around 80% of all reported incidents).
While many officers will only use the taser if they feel their life is in danger it's obvious some are using the taser to control and intimidate.

Anne M 8
said

When are we going to conclude that the taser IS dangerous and lethal. Of course one will never get the manufacturer to admit that is can be a lethal weapon, he will lose too much money, if he does. Much more research needs to be done, before we can accept this as a weapon of choice, also much more training for thoses who are given it.

DarrenD
said

I agree - if you don't resist arrest, you won't get tasered. I only wish the Vancouver RCMP had taken the time to communicate with the Polish Immigrant. I don't understand why there was a rush to subdue him. They barely arrived and were on him. The guy in Halifax is asking for big trouble when he understands what's going on and tries to escape arrest. I believe the use of taser in that instance was way more justifiable.

Stu
said

Charlotte,

Read the posts. All officers ARE tasered in their training, and an article went further to report that there has never been any medical issue with an Officer during this training.

Dave
said

What I find interesting is that so many people become "armchair" use of force experts when something like this happens. How many of these people have had to confront a violent individual or one who is out of control? How many have been in a physical confrontation?

Police officers must make a quick decision in circumstances where they do no have the luxury of knowing all the facts. Civilians, after the fact, have the benefit of hindsight and time to reflect.

For those of you who say "it was only a stapler he picked up"... any object can be used as a weapon, even fists and feet. The dude in the airport was throwing things around prior to police attendance. Do you not think that police were made aware of this prior to them getting on scene?

For those of you who criticize police "in general" for the job they do... pick up an application form and join a police service so that you can better understand what situations they have to face on a daily basis.

When did it become okay to consider police officers as dispensable where it is just accepted that they should get hurt while protecting the public? If a police officer gets hurt while responding to a call for service, then he/she can no longer provide the protection that they are expected to.

Why don't we all wait until the results of the investigations are complete before we condemn them??

Wallace M
said

The Police have stages of force after Voice commands. They have Hand to Hand, then Pepper spray, asp (batton), Tasers, then gun. They only have a few seconds to go throught them in there mind. I would say (not Voice) but all these things could and have killed prisoners at one time or another. I think the people saying "If you don't resist being arrested, you won't get tasered" are correct. We just have to accept the fact that the police are here for us "Protecting and serving" as 24/7 and we should just respect that fact.

Jasmine
said

I have traveled to many countries and must say no matter where I go, police are easily identifiable. Never been to Poland but is this how he reacts to police there?? I didn't understand the languages of everywhere I went but know that if police approach and don't understand, don't act like a lunatic and throw things! Tasers alone do not kill. Most of the people tasered are intoxicated and/or high which when tasered, send their body into over board this. Best way not to get tasered, don't fight with police!!

I don't know whatit's like to have someone fight or harm me like police officers face. I support the police and give them my respect and support.

Police officers are people too! They all have families that want them to return home safely.

maritimegal
said

While it is extremely unfortunate that Mr. Dziekanski died after he was tasered, I have to ask, was I the only one who saw that video? Am I wrong by saying that HE was acting in a very inappropriate, AGGRESSIVE manner? Regardless of if the man was 'upset' about being held for hours, he was acting irrational and out of control! You can not risk having someone act in that manner in an airport today! We have to have confidence in our police officers to do what they need to do to keep the public safe. People can not act aggressive without consequences. Unfortunately sometimes the aggressors become victims themselves, however a taser is a much better alternative to a bullet....

brian
said

Angie, pretty much summed it up. The testing of Tasers on perhaps the fittest in our society does not provide us with accurate data as to how safe this device is when used on the general public. My condolences to the officer's and victim's families.

ance
said

I once watched while 2 RCMP officers did an outstanding job of diffusing a situation very similar to the one which resulted in the death of that man in the Vancouver Aiport.

Using only words and their own calm, professional and conciliatory demeanor, these officers subdued an unarmed but clearly agitated, tired and angry non-english speaker who had knocked a display off of the counter, taken a key from a staff member of the restaurant and acted agressively enough to have everyone else on the scene cutting him a wide berth.

This process took them much longer than the 25 seconds taken in the tasering incident, but the outcome was vastly favourable to having harm come to anyone.

I don't think anyone believes that the officers involved in these recent deaths intended that their actions harm these people.

That being said, is there some complancency about overstated taser safety that leads officers to use this weapon where they may have used compassion and charisma before?

dj
said

Raymond in Barrhaven said:
"Regarding the YVR incident...why is it that no one from the RCMP or media mentions that the man picks up what appears to be a metal object from the desk, just prior to being zapped....a stapler perhaps. It is clear to see in the video, yet no one mentions it."

How rude! The only lame defense that couldn't stand in any light of truth and you sit there raining on their parade.

Good defense!

Karen
said

All officers, RCMP and Correctional Officers are Tased before they work the streets, do not think for a second they do not know what that feels like!

Aaron
said

One of the things that is continually not mentioned other than in comments forums such as these is that all officers that carry tasers have been tasered (including myself). I can say without a doubt that a taser has both lessened the danger to myself and subjects that I was trying to apprehend. As far as alternative methods for subject control condsider this: 99.9% of the time the subject is tasered, control is gained, and there is no residual injury. End of story. Other methods of subject control, being open or closed hand control (martial arts as one of the other comments called it) leaves much greater potential for injury to both the officer and the subject. Officers are also not terribly nimble when wearing a protective vest and 20 pounds of equipment either. Other tools like batons have thier obvious drawbacks and pepper spray (once again I too as part of my training have been sprayed) is up to 24 hours of sheer agony depending on one's tolerance. The taser despite the negative press, ( I am not disputing these incidents require investigation) still is, in many cases the best tool for many of the extremely dangerous and dynamic scenarios police officers face daily. All the "armchair quarterbacks" have the luxury of not having to make a split second decision in good faith and then having a misinformed public outcry claiming "police brutality". Trust me, it is exceedingly dangerous out there and we as police officers have better things to do than to arbitrarily harm people. Once again, walk a mile in our shoes.

Dan
said

Taser is the safer alternative to a bullet. How many tasered individuals have survived because they took the charge instead of the lead? By all available statistics, the vast majority did.

Ross B
said

The question I have is can we trust our police?

With the Polish man he was not resisting arrest- the video showed this. But the RCMP position for one month before the video was made public was that he did resist arrest. Clearly it was a lie or a result of the RCMP investigatiung itself. How many other scenarios are like this?

I have also read that often tasers are used against weaponless people. The question I must ask is what is the risk to the police officer? If it is anything short of death a taser should not be used.

Further, an officer being tested with a taser "to see how it feels" is not relevant to conclude tasers do not kill. Tasering a person who is in an agitated state is different physiological conditions.

Personally I have major doubts about the credibility about our police forces on this issue. Tasers appear to be regularly misused and people are being unnecessarily injured with no responsibility taken by the police as they investigate themselves.

Galations 6.7
said

Volunteered and tased twice and survived.
The differente was I was not high on crack, intoxicated,or acting out of control.
Perhaps we should focus on these 3 issues instead of the taser.

TMC
said

Tasers don't kill people, perhaps pre-exising conditions kill them, like, lethal doses of drugs in their system that is causing them to go nuts in the first place, or that excited delerium syndrome.
If you're fighting the cops, you NEED to be subdued, for your own sake, the public's sake and for our fine officers' sake. Thank you Law Enforcement for putting up with so much nonsense. I appreciate your diligence and protection.

Tim McDermott
said

I have the greatest confidence in Canadian Peace Officers when it comes to how they use force. I do not expect them to use physical force to try and restrain and subdue a potentially violent suspect. I do not for a second subscribe to the notion that a police officer should expose themself to unnecessary risk.
Having said all that, I believe that as Tasers prove themselves to be an invaluable tool, it is conceivable that in some cases the use of a taser might be considered before it is truely warranted.
I'm not prepared to pass judgement on the RCMP officers who tasered Mr Dziekanski. There are others, who are more qualified, and who have access to more information then I do. I do understand the rush by some to condemn though...

Robert
said

Police are trained to use minimal force as primary method to subdue an unruly individual. Me thinks tasers are above minimal force, however when the safety of police and the innocent are concerned they will do what is necessary to prevail. Perhaps building a kinder gentler taser may be in order

Ron
said

The taser is brought out too quickly. Four officers having to hit the Polish gentleman with it twice? give me a break. Tasering a guy because he wouldn't sign his speeding ticket in Utah, give me a break again.

Used correctly, great tool. Someone threatening with a gun, a knife or anything else that could hurt the officer, sure. Aside from that, what I am seeing is pure laziness that cost someone their life.

Bob
said

I think it's great that anyone trained in the use of Tasers get shocked themselves. However, this only shows the officers what it will do to someone in good to great physical health. The problem is, most of those tasered ARE NOT that demographic. Because of WHAT the taser does (transmit electricity) a 'weapon' like that needs to be fully tested. I have read no reports of how this was tested on people with things like heart conditions, epilepsy, dementia, or less than adequate physical health. THESE are the people that are dying when shot with the taser, not those in perfect health.

Kevin
said

Maybe when a police officer approaches with a weapon drawn and asks people to stop what they are doing and put their hands up then people should put their hands up and not throw things at the police officers or attack. Or maybe expecting common sense in people is asking too much.

Jackie
said

I feel that a taser is the lesser of the two evils when compared to a gun. What we haven't been given by the media, goverment or RCMP is the amount of times it is used in a year, how many live, how many die, and what were the health of the individuals that died was like. I am sure that if I was tasered, I would die due to having a heart condition. I agree that if you don't resist arrest then you wont get hurt whether it is a taser, peper spray, bullet, baton, ect. The police are out to make peace and will do what they must to keep others from getting hurt, I know enough officers to know that they don't go out to cause trouble. All we are hearing is how bad the police are these days, but when they use a taser and not one gets killed we don't hear how good they are for taking down another bad guy/girl. If it is the tool, change it, don't punish the officer that is doing their job with the tools that are given to them.

Albert
said

Scientific studies have shown time and again that there is not enough current through the heart to induce cardiac arrhythmias or heart damage from Tasers. The buzz word now is excited delirium, but no one really knows what that is. I suspect death is from something else, like respiratory paralysis or being physically subdued afterwards. Speaking as a physician, I think more attention has to be paid to the exact course of events in these deaths. Are the police contributing to death through something they are doing after zapping?

Kevin
said

It isn't fair to ask if someone would prefer a bullet vs a taser. That is not the core issue. The issue is that police use tasers in many cases as a punitive measure against vocal citizens. If a cop doesn't like something you say the taser is often their response. The taser isn't being used only when an officer feels threatend, its being used as an offensive tool to ensure complience. It wasn't meant as a first response weapon but thats how it is used. This was wrong long before it started resulting in deaths.

Gary Wilson
said

Keith, your open-arms acceptance that our only choice is between a taser and a bullet is frightening. The police don't have to be using either in most cases. Do you assume the police were shooting every person in every slightly confusing or mildly difficult situation they came across before tasers came into existance?

Tristan
said

If you don't want to get zapped, dont do anything wrong! I have no sympathy for anyone who gets Tazered. It's either get tazered or the next step up, eating lead.

Bill MacPherson
said

It's very dangerous for police to become involved in physical altercations with combative subjects, especially when those people may be under the influence of drugs, and bigger and stronger than the officers.

While I would encourage a review to ensure Tasers are deployed properly, the fact remains that they are a valuable tool for law enforcement, and can effectively neutralize a subject quickly without serious after effects in 99% of cases.

Charlotte
said

I have heard many bold statements in the last few weeks that state that the Taser has NEVER been proven as the cause of death in any incident.. If this is the case just as police used to be pepper sprayed in training so they use the weapon properly, they should all be tasered once in training as well since it is an "alternative" to deadly force and has never killed anyone this should not be a problem for the rcmp.
This would also help police be more selective about its use and what warrant deadly force once they are out on the street.

Jason
said

Do they need more training with the taser? Of course, it's a weapon, training should be on going.

Do we do a knee jerk reaction and take the tasers away? Most definitely no. Do that and they are left with basically their sidearm. Of course a bullet in the chest will certainly get ones attention.

Craig
said

Exactly Raymond, everyone is so quick to jump on the RCMP without looking at the whole picture.

Dziekanski clearing picked up a stapler prior to the incident. He was also turning to run away before and during the event.

Yet everyone think he was so innocent. Even after he was throwing tables and verbally abusing staff.

Gord G
said

Think the cops only use tasers when necessary, check this out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMaMYL_shxc

Tony Wolfe
said

To Keith: A lot of instances where the police used a taser did not require either a bullet OR a taser. There are documented instances where people have been tasered while wearing handcuffs. Would the police use a bullet when they are cuffed? I would hope not! No, Keith, that's not a valid argument.

island girl
said

To Raymond: Are you implying a stapler constitutes a weapon? I think I could take down a guy armed with a stapler or maybe I should just taser the next guy who picks one up.
To those saying 'Answer is clear: don't resist arrest". Why was the man at the airport subject to an arrest? He wasn't even told his rights in a language he could understand so how could he be arrested?

Been There
said

ALL officers using Tasers are required, as part of their training, to be tasered, sometimes more than once. I was tasered when I was 68 years old, and I can tell you that within SECONDS of the trigger being released, you are back on your feet (provided you don't have a 75 Kg cop sitting on your back). I am now somewhat older, and would have no hesitation in being tasered again. Tell you what, we'll run a little test. We'll have a healthy young constable taser you first for compliance, and then we'll have an elderly gentleman bring you into compliance using a steel baton and "come along" holds. You would be very interested in the result, let me tell you.

Melissa
said

A taser should be used just like any other weapon - only if necessary.
It shouldn't be used just to get someone in order, it should be used if lives are at risk.

Angie
said

I don't think tasering RCMP will give us an accurate picture of how lethal a taser can be. RCMP on average are in better physical condition than the rest of society. It would be very different to taser a healthy, strong RCMP than someone who has heart problem.
Also it's not whether you would rather be shot by a gun or a taser. There's no denying that taser is less fatal in comparison to a gun. What should be looked at is the prevalence of the use of a taser. Are RCMP overusing it? In the case with Robert Dziekanski, if the RCMP had a gun and not a taser gun, would they have used it as readily as they did with the taser?

Ted
said

There's always truncheons. Nothing like a good old club over the noggin to settle a violent individual down a bit. What could go wrong? A little brain damage maybe? Happened all the time before video clips started showing things as they were.

Martial arts? Sure. Have everyone practice between donuts.

Tough to do a warning shot with a tazer but it's less lethal than any of the above.

Jumping a crazed violent person can result in career ending injuries. Minimum height standards went out the door years ago so now we have many officers who simply don't have the strength to overpower some violent nut-job.

Raymond in Barrhaven
said

Regarding the YVR incident...why is it that no one from the RCMP or media mentions that the man picks up what appears to be a metal object from the desk, just prior to being zapped....a stapler perhaps. It is clear to see in the video, yet no one mentions it.

Stephen B
said

The police should go back to using their guns.

Lisa
said

It seems the question is whether law enforcement officers are using the "less dangerous" weapon instead of a gun in extreme situations or if they are using it as a method of controlling behavior when a gun would never have been considered an option. Is law enforcement using tasers in some cases as a means of bullying? That is what needs to be determined.

CraigW
said

To Lundy:

As a police officer I can say that I have been exposed to a TASER and it did not kill me. In fact all police officers are exposed to a TASER as well as pepper spray.

An easy answer to this is to stop resisting arrest.

Arthur
said

This message is for LUNDY..... All RCMP officers trained to use the taser ARE shocked with the taser as part of the training. The same goes for pepper spray.

Bruce
said

Lundy:

ALL RCMP officers are shocked by tasers in training, everyone one of them.

Stu
said

I agree with David. If you knowingly commit a crime, expect to be dealt with severely. Don't go around breaking laws and then wonder why your being shocked and subdued. Thats the price to pay for not abiding by the rules. Simple as that.

Face reality
said

Statistically speaking, 3 people die each and every day in Canada in alcohol-related crashes. Too bad our government wouldn't put the same effort in to preventing those deaths.

17 people have died after people shocked with a taser in Canada since the weapon was introduced. That's less than one week's worth of deaths caused by impaired drivers in this country.

Which story do you think should be categorized as Breaking News; 17 deaths or 1,000/year?

Tim
said

Tasers end violent confrontations very quickly. I have used them, and I have also been tasered as part of my training. I truly believe they are safe, and they avoid more serious injuries to both the suspect and police. Does anyone know how dangerous a fist fight is? A fight where, if the officer loses, his gun can be taken and used against him?

The police are called upon to resolve conflict often at 2:00 AM at the side of the road during extremely trying and demanding circumstances. A split second decision made by an officer during the heat of the moment is analyzed for years by others who pass judgement without ever having been presented with the same set of impossible circumnstances. Police work comes with risk. The public doesn't want to get their hands dirty-they expect the police to do it for them. But hell hath no fury if the public thinks the officer acted incorrectly.

Don't judge until you have walked a mile in our shoes.

tc1forever@yahoo.com
said

How can anyone justify the incident in Vancouver, the man had no weapons period. He got off a plane and was stuck in a secure area for hours. Less then 30 seconds he was tasered how many times.

Tom
said

Our enforcement personnel are using these tasers as a controlling tool rather than using it only when their lives are in danger or the lives of someone else is in immenent danger. Consequently the tendency appears to be to use tasers instead of relying on the self defence/restarint techniques taught at RCMP depot and elsewhere. Obviously tasers are a high risk tool that are used far too frequently.

Lundy
said

All RAMP officer should be shocked by tasers once to feel the impact, plus it is good to see how many RCMP officers can survive the shock. This would be the best indicator on whether or not using tasers is good.

John K
said

It is becoming obvious that either the use of tasers should be discontinued or they will have to be made less powerful. I don't think that the police intend to kill anyone when they use these things. .

David
said

If you don't resist being arrested, you won't get tasered. It is a great tool to protect our police service.

Jeff M
said

While any death for any reason is tragic Canadians need to look at the bigger picture.

Conducted Energy Weapons(CEW), are a less-than-lethal use of force option and generally are a safe alternative to lethal force options. Of all taser deployments in the past year, in Canada or North America, what percentage of those resulted in serious injury or death?

I believe you will find the number incredibly low.

And consider this - if every CEW deployment in the past year was replaced with a lethal force option (shooting) what would the death toll be?

Marion Claege
said

Are we too quick to use the Taser, as in the Polish traveller in BC? Are we in need of training in the effective use of Tasers? Should we investigate alternative methods of restraint? eg Martial Arts training.

Keith
said

A bullet or taser. Let me think which would I prefer given the choice?
The best way to put an end to police using a taser would be to ask all those that may encounter the use of one to think before embarking on a situation that may require there use !

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