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Senator calls for moratorium on RCMP Taser use
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CTV.ca News Staff
Date: Tue. Nov. 27 2007 8:19 AM ET
A moratorium on Taser use by the RCMP should be imposed until everyone is assured that officers issued the weapons are properly trained, says Sen. Colin Kenny.
The appropriate time to use them "is ... when someone is threatened or someone is in danger," the chair of the Senate defence and national security committee told Canada AM on Tuesday.
Kenny said police may wish to consider a different type of Taser.
"There are Tasers that actually record a picture of what the Taser's aiming at, and they record it on a little tape and they record the sound."
This would make the officer think twice before using the Taser and would give a reviewing officer a record of what happened, he said.
Kenny said he was speaking in general terms and not specifically about the case of Robert Dziekanski, the Polish immigrant who died following a confrontation with police at Vancouver International Airport in the early-morning hours of Oct. 14.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) released its report into the Dziekanski affair on Monday.
Alain Jolicoeur, president of the federal agency, said it would move to improve translation services at the airport and make changes in the way it deals with international travellers.
The CBSA will also extend video surveillance of the areas under its control within the airport, he said.
Kenny said he's reviewed the five recommendations.
"The most obvious concern to me is when the individual came to primary inspection, there was clearly a communications problem. And at that point, there should have been an escort to take the individual through to secondary," he said.
Dziekanski -- who came to Canada to be with his mother, Zofia Cisowski of Kamloops, B.C. -- went through primary inspection at 4:09 p.m. on Oct. 13.
He went in the direction of the secondary inspection area, but then ended up in the baggage carousel area, where he remained for more than six hours.
Cisowski's husband made inquiries about Dziekanski at 7 p.m., but CBSA officials said no one fitting Dziekanski's description was found.
Dziekanski tried to leave the baggage area at 10:40 p.m. A border services officer directed him to the secondary inspection area. By that time, his mother had already left for Kamloops.
Joliceur said an officer who spoke a "limited" amount of Polish was available to help Dziekanski; however, that individual was never called on again during the evening.
Dziekanski cleared secondary inspection at 11:30 p.m.
A sweating, distressed Dziekanski started acting out at about 1:20 a.m. Airport security called the RCMP, and officers used a Taser to shock Dziekanski at least twice.
The 40-year-old lost consciousness and died.
"I don't know how customs can clear somebody to come into the country if they can't communicate with them," Kenny said.
There are translation services available off-site, he said.
The CBSA report is one of at least eight reviews into the Dziekanski case, including a public inquiry launched by British Columbia and a federal inquiry into the RCMP's use of Tasers.
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I applaud the budget, even though Health Care and education may stay unscathed. Sadly this cannot last and I worry to later this year where cuts will become enviable. If anything, this provides the Wildrose Alliance plenty of ammo when an election is called.


Please Add Comments( )
Allan
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D
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Jeebus
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chris
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Fed-Up in NS
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A moratorium will only do any good if it results in a complete ban. Letting them have time to get better training, well that's just a joke. Take them away!
Moe
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dwayne-ottawa
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Darren
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D.R. - Calgary
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buck wraight
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Rights and freedoms.....
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"...why not stop breaking the law?"
But wait! This is the land of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I have my rights!
Why should I stop breaking the law? Just because I want to do things my way, and ignore the rights and freedoms of other people, that does not mean that I have no rights!
A good tax payer-supplied lawyer should be able to tell you all about that!
And those cops that put their lives on the line to protect you from people like me?
Well, they chose their dangerous profession, didn't they?
isn't officer american, imagine that from UShaters
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J.R.
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A Citizen
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Brad
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Will
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Patrick
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Jim Burgess
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Ron J.
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I've been tasered. I've been pepper sprayed. Pepper spray is much worse. I've never been shot by police, but I'm real sure that would be even worse yet!!
Ernie
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Smerg
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“Make the officer think twice before using the Taser, That thought could very well cost our officers their lives” and “Do a few cops have to die for this nonsense to stop” well how many unarmed civilians have to die?
Jon
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Mother finds out takes daughter to hospital gets her checks out and makes sure there is a medical record. Then gets hospital to take pictures of puncture wounds. Next day tries to make report with RCMP. Is told no report will be taken, if officer felt he was in danger that is only excuse he needs to use taser.
Did I mention yet,that the 13year old is 4ft nothing and less then 100 lbs.
NO
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mick
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Alison Beil
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FreakAlert
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Some of these officers with the responsibility of authority should not look at any excuse to use a taser but look at the excuses not to use it.
Norm in Mexico
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Archie M
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Rob Weihnachten
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An immigrant citizen
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Alan
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CraigW in Ontario
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If you think you can do a better job handling out of control people, then I suggest applying, get tested, go through the training, the probation period and then go on the road alone at 3 a.m and then come back and comment on how things should be done. Until then I would say educate yourself before making comments.
I suggest going face to face with some one who is HEP C, HIV, violent, MHA or just angry at life.
Remember when people are running from a person who is armed and dangerous, who is running towards them? The police. Someone's husbamd, wife, son, daughter, father or mother, brother or sister.
Allan
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sherry
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The issue here is that the officers in question were acting out of order and did not follow the procedure laid out for them.
The airport failed to give Dziekanski the assistance he needed and drove him to the stressful state that led to the incident.
VancouverDave
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N
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CG
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Eleanor
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(Fed up in NS) also ty for your service!
What happened to two or three officers just
taking a person and putting cuffs on him??
Many RCMP officers are decent officers protecting us but sorry there are a few whose power go to their head.
my opinion of the Taser is if it kills people ban it!!
Everyone deserves justice for a crime not death.
I
Scott
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The problem is, these police officers are in general good health, generally not-drunk, and calmer than your average criminal, when they get hit. I think recents events are showing that tasers may be more dangerous given these vairables.
I think cops should be allowed to have what they need to do their job, but also comprehend the gravity of the force they are employing. Every police officer knows that there are checks and consequences when a firearm is used.
In the cases we have seen lately in the news, it's clear tasers were not being employed instead of firearms, as no police officer would ever consider shooting an unarmed person no matter how belligerent.
RRO
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This is not to say they deserve to die but if you resist arrest then the options open to police prior to the taser where pepper spray and their billy clubs. Both have very serious consequences as well.
The taser is used how often and how many deaths have resulted. A lot less than if the cops have to pull there gun. If anything I think tasers make guns an almost completely unnecessary except in the most serious situations.
It's time to stop over reacting to a few unfortunate situations, being overblown by the media and brought on by people breaking the law.
Abdul
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Just a guy...
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Susan
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eric
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Experienced
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FreakAlert
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Again, better screening and stronger mindsets are required, in my opinion, to be a police officer.
Umm..are opinionated comments okay, here??
Steve
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Rebecca
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Tomi
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4:08 Reports to Primary Screening
Referred to Secondary Screening
Reports to secondary screening
Detained and processed by CBSA for 6 hours without a translator.
Why is there only an electronic record & time stamp of his first contact?
anne8
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John
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You confirm my thoughts exactly. We are increasingly militarizing our policing attitude. They will `harmonize' better with US policing that way. Just take a g**gle at the S*P*P and N*A*U! This has to stop.