Report on use of force by Calgary police stresses training, recruitment

A wide-ranging report on the Calgary Police Service's use of force makes 65 recommendations that touch on training, recruitment, equipment and oversight.

An independent review by a retired Court of Queen's Bench chief justice says front-line officers should have annual training on how to de-escalate intense situations and that theybe required to carry conducted energy weapons, pepper spray and batons in addition to handguns.

Neil Wittmann's 389-page report makes 65 recommendations in several categories provincial oversight, officer recruitment, officer education and training, use of force and how incidents are handled, mental health issues, police culture and strategic management.

Wittmannsays the use of body-worn cameras should be monitored and that acts of heroism or positive public interactions caught on body cams should be publicized.

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He flags delays in reviewing situations where police used force and urges more resources for the provincial police oversight body as well as for the medical examiner.

Wittmann suggests the CPS use-of-force policy statement be re-worded slightly to include the words "and proportionate" to the sentence "reasonably necessary to safely control the situation."

He says training on use of force must "begin with critical decision-making and threat assessment, not whether use of force is 'justified' under the Criminal Code."

He recommends the force bring in mandatory, annualtraining for front-line officers in strategic communication and de-escalation techniques, and introduce crisis intervention training for a cross-section of patrol officers.

The review also says police should work with Alberta Health Services to ensure officers know if they'll be responding to a call involving someone with mental-health problems.

Wittmann says that more often than not, police are the first to respond to a person in a mental-health crisis.

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"I believe it is incumbent on the police to acknowledge that this is now a critical component of their job," he writes in the review.

Wittmann says changes to police training, recruitment and other procedures can only go so far in addressing the problem.

Gaps in mental health system

"The situation reiterates the need for a broader discussion about the glaring gaps withinthe mental health system and the implications for the lives of all Calgarians," he said.

"It is unlikely there will be improved outcomes of police encounters with people in crisis absent a focus on minimizing and/or preventing people from finding themselves in a mental health crisis."

From 2012 to 2017, there were 21 shootings by Calgary police officers that killed eight people and injured 10.

The report also suggests that psychological tests used in recruitment should be evaluated and that CPS "implement additional avenues for the engagement of psychologicalservices in the design, implementation and review of the officer recruitment process."

The report makes numerous suggested changes to the way Calgary police officers are trained, both initially and once they're on the force.

Wittmann suggests CPS establish an annual budget for its Chief Crowfoot Learning Cenrtre and elevate its status, making the facility responsible for all aspects of recruit and in-service education and training.

Wittmann was tapped about a year ago to review the police service's use of force. Since then, he said, he personally interviewed 190 people, including officers, families of those affected, mental-health workers and academics.

The Calgary Police Service welcomed Wittmann'sideas and pledged to try to implement them as part of a long-term strategy.

In a release, the force said its immediate priorities will be on Wittmann's recommendations concerning reforms to the Police Act, mental health issues he discussed, as well as histraining and education suggestions.

"Just as with other professions, policing requires a commitment to lifelong learning, and CPS must ensure that it has a curriculum that follows this principle of continually refreshing and enhancing knowledge and skills," the force said.

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