Written by Ian Hitchen of Brandon Sun
Crime-fighting devices that could help cops tame unruly crooks won’t be part of the local police force’s arsenal any time soon, in part because of ongoing budget woes.
Brandon Police Service Sgt. Larry Yanick said the debut of Tasers, controversial devices that immobilize a person with an electrical current, has been delayed.
“We haven’t shelved the idea of using Tasers, we are still behind the Taser project,” Yanick said. “That has been temporarily put on hold or delayed, I guess, until next year.”
The delay is a result of a string of cost-saving measures the BPS has made in its effort to tame a $150,000 shortfall.
Last month, Chief Richard Bruce said three officers would be shifted to patrol from other units. He blamed high fuel costs and overtime for the shortfall. Officers would also be asked to double up in cars.
Shortly after, Brandon Police Association president Darren Creighton said officers were told not to drive around as much, and the number of cars on the street at any given time would be cut.
Creighton couldn’t be reached for comment yesterday.
Yanick said city council approved the Taser order and officers were to undergo training this fall. They might have been in use by the end of the year, Yanick said.
Now they’ll train in early 2006 and may be in officers’ hands between January and March.
Yanick explained the officer who would supply the mandatory training has been shifted from the intelligence section to patrol as part of a cost-saving measure aimed at shaving overtime.
“Because he’s been transferred he has other duties and we’re not able to put together the training for the officers at this time of the year,” Yanick said.
Holidays also make it tough to get officers trained by year-end.
“It’s just a bit of a time issue, and a bit of a time crunch,” he said.
About 50 officers, mainly uniformed patrol officers, would carry the devices.
Police value Tasers for their ability to quickly tame suspects.
“It’s a great safety factor for officers,” Yanick said. “It does help to reduce any injuries, not only for the officers but for the subject.”
The Tasers — classified as a prohibited weapon for the general public — would be similar to those used by Blue Hills RCMP. They can be used either as a projectile weapon — with prongs that hook into the target — or by making direct contact with the body. Tasers gained notoriety after six men in the space of about a year — four in British Columbia, two in Ontario — died following zappings.
But investigations into virtually all of those incidents found those who died were high on large amounts of cocaine or crack cocaine and probably went into cardiac arrest from the drug abuse.
Noting that, Blue Hills RCMP Const. Denis Rondeau said RCMP headquarters in Ottawa sent out a message this week to say the stunners are here to stay.
“As far as we’re concerned right now the Tasers are safe and we will continue to use them,” said Rondeau, one of five Blue Hills officers trained to use the devices. “I carry it all the time.”
Rondeau added Blue Hills officers have yet use to the weapon, which costs around $500 each.
Yanick said suspect safety would be a part of BPS training.
