News Release

RCMP Taser use down significantly

March 26, 2009
For Immediate Release

Ottawa, Ontario  – Paul E. Kennedy, Chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC), today released key findings on RCMP Taser use in 2008. Mr. Kennedy determined it was in the public interest to release these statistics today ahead of the CPC's Comprehensive Report on 2008 RCMP Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) Use, which was scheduled for release on Wednesday, April 1, 2009. The full report, now being released on Monday, April 6, 2009, is the most definitive investigation of Taser use of its kind.

Of note to Canadians, and those following the Taser use debate, there appears to have been a systemic shift in how members of the RCMP are now using Conducted Energy Weapons (Tasers) compared to previous years – particularly 2007 where use was highest. Reported RCMP Taser use declined 30 percent in 2008, compared to 2007. Of great significance, when unholstered, the weapon was used 72 percent of the time in 2007 – compared to 51 percent in 2008. This signifies a greater use of the Taser as a deterrent, versus actual application of the weapon.

Previous concerns raised by the CPC that RCMP members were abusing Taser usage in "push stun" (i.e. direct contact) mode with citizens appears to have decreased significantly from 55 percent in 2004 (35 percent in 2007), to 23 percent in 2008.

The CPC analysis discovered that in over half of the reports of RCMP Taser use, members claimed they avoided the use of deadly force by instead using the Taser. Having reviewed the narratives associated with each Taser report, the CPC seriously questions this finding and believes that RCMP members are incorrectly completing the CEW reporting form.

"Overall, I am encouraged by the decrease of Taser usage and increased restraint show by RCMP members in the field," said Paul Kennedy, CPC Chair.

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For more information, please contact:
Nelson Kalil
Manager, Communications
613-952-2452
nelson.kalil@cpc-cpp.gc.ca