Ottawa police welcome provincial decision on Taser deployment

Ottawa police say they welcome the province's decision to allow police forces to come up with their own rules about which officerscan use Tasers.

Ontario Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilleur made the announcement Tuesday, exactly one month after Sammy Yatim, 18, was shot multiple times and stunned with a Taser by police during a confrontation on an empty streetcar in Toronto.

Prior to Tuesday's announcement, Ontario had restricted the use of Tasers to a select few supervising and tactical officers, setting Ontario police apart from counterparts in several other provinces and with the RCMP.

Police chiefs have been advocating for the expanded use of Tasers for years.

Tasers have been in use in Ottawa for several years and they are currently issued to all front-line supervisors on patrol and thepolice tactical unit, about 200 officers in total.

Chief wants 500 officers armed with tasers

Ottawa Police Chief Charles Bordeleau wants to have 300 more officers start carrying the weapon, to bring the total to 500.

"Our frontline officers have indicated that they get frustrated when they knowthey want to use a taser and it takes a couple of minutesfor the sergeant tocome down to the scene, so there is a demand," said Bordeleau.

In Ottawa, Tasers have been deployed by police about 18 times a year.

Bordeleau saidOttawa police are workingon a report on the expanded use of Tasers. It will detail the costs, training needed and exactly what officers in what divisions will get the Taser.

The report will go to the police services board by the end of the year.

Bordeleau said each Taseris about$2,000. The cost to equip 300 patrol officers wouldcost the local taxpayer$600,000, but Bordeleau said the cost isa worthwhile investment.

The province will track Taser use and provide new training guidelines but it won't pay for the weapons.

James Foord, president of the Defence Counsel Association of Ottawa, argued police don't use Tasers as a weapon of last resort.

"They're allowed to use those not just for when they're facedwith asituation where they believe thatsomeoneis going tobe killed or seriously harmed," he said.

"They'll bebe able to use themwhen they needto control someone, whatever that means."