Ombudsman wants police to get better training in de-escalation techniques

Ontario's ombudsman wants police to get better trainingin de-escalation techniques, saying they get plenty of instructionon how to use their guns, but not enough on how to use their"mouths."

Paul Dube says 19 more people have been killed in policeshootings in Ontario since he opened a special investigationfollowing the shooting death of teenager Sammy Yatim on a Torontostreetcar in July 2013.

He says inquests have shown police respond with their guns whenvulnerable people are in crisis because they are following theirtraining, which focuses on "drawing their weapons and yellingcommands."

Dube says there is "ample evidence" the government needs tomake the issue a priority and mandate more instruction time inde-escalation techniques, including well over 100 coroner's juryrecommendations calling for improved policetraining.

The government watchdog says Ontario's basic police trainingcourse is among the shortest in Canada, and is more focused on howto use weapons than on finding alternatives.

Dube stresses he's not being critical of police, but of their"inadequate training" for when they face difficult and potentiallydangerous situations, and says the shootings are traumatic foreveryone, including the officers.

"We don't need another study or consultation to determine thatpolice training on de-escalation is inadequate," Dube said as hereleased his report.

"It is not just a mater of long-overdue leadership, but ofsaving lives."