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Canadian police associations call for more Tasers

Canada's police associations on Tuesday called for wider authorized use of Taser stun guns by all officers, while dismissing cries for a ban after several suspects zapped by police died.

"We are of the opinion that all police officers should be authorized to have a conducted energy weapon," Canadian Police Association This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article.  president Charles Momy told a press conference.

He was echoed by Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police is a national political lobby organization for police executives in Canada. It was founded in 1905 as the "Chief Constables Association of Canada" and adopted the current name in the early 1950s. External links
[1]
 vice-president Tom Kaye, who described the 50,000-volt US-manufactured Taser as a "very valuable public safety tool."

The conducted energy weapon delivers a series of electrical pulses that temporarily incapacitate in·ca·pac·i·tate  
tr.v. in·ca·pac·i·tat·ed, in·ca·pac·i·tat·ing, in·ca·pac·i·tates
1. To deprive of strength or ability; disable.

2. To make legally ineligible; disqualify.
 an individual. Currently, only senior officers carry them in most of Canada.

Two weeks ago, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Royal Canadian Mounted Police, constabulary organized (1873) as the Northwest Mounted Police to bring law and order to the Canadian west. In 1920 the name was changed to the present title. , under pressure to halt their use after at least 11 related deaths in this country, announced stricter controls for Tasers.

They would be permitted only if police or public safety were threatened, not to try to control someone who is simply uncooperative or resisting arrest resisting arrest n. the crime of using physical force (no matter how slight in the eyes of most law enforcement officers) to prevent arrest, handcuffing and/or taking the accused to jail. .

The death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, 40, in October 2007 after four RCMP officers confronted him and jolted him with a Taser stun gun less than a minute into the encounter, galvanized gal·va·nize  
tr.v. gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing, gal·va·niz·es
1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current.

2.
 public opposition to their use.

Dziekanski had been wandering for hours lost at the Vancouver International Airport Vancouver International Airport (IATA: YVR, ICAO: CYVR) is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about 15 kilometres from downtown Vancouver. , unable to get information as he spoke only Polish.

Widely distributed video images of the encounter, shot by a bystander, showed Dziekanski falling to the ground and screaming in pain before dying minutes later. An inquiry into his death is underway.

Other alleged abuses involved an elderly man strapped to a hospital stretcher, a teenage girl in a jail cell and transit users trying to avoid paying fares.

Still, Kaye maintained the devices are safe.

"We are approaching 150 studies and reviews that have been taken place around the world in countries that have these devices, and none of those studies, none of those research papers have shown that anybody has ever died from having a conducted energy weapon deployed on them," he said.

The police associations represent some 57,000 police personnel in 160 police services across Canada.
Copyright 2009 AFP American Edition
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright (c) Mochila, Inc.

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Author:AFP
Publication:AFP American Edition
Date:Feb 24, 2009
Words:350
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