THE city councillor in charge of public safety says Winnipeg police will study new RCMP restrictions on the use of Tasers.
Coun. Gord Steeves, who chairs the community services committee, says police are reporting back to council early next year on their use of Tasers.
Gord Steeves: report in new year
"I expect they'll compare us to other police forces, including the RCMP, to see if we're different and, if so, why," said Steeves.
The RCMP said Friday it is restricting the use of Tasers to situations where a suspect is combative or is being actively resistant.
The move comes just days after a critical report said the national police force was firing the stun guns too often. That report was prompted by the furor surrounding the case of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, who died Oct. 14 after he was repeatedly Tasered and pinned to the floor by RCMP officers at Vancouver International Airport.
A spokesman for Justice Minister Dave Chomiak said Taser use is an operational matter and up to each police department and the province wouldn't interfere.
Winnipeg police said they stay abreast of all incidents and policy changes related to Tasers but wouldn't say whether the force would alter its use of the stun guns to mirror the RCMP's.
"I can't speculate about what we may or may not do," said police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.
It's also not clear whether Winnipeg police already restrict the use of Tasers to suspects who are combative or actively resistant to police. Michalyshen said discussing when Winnipeg police are allowed to use the stun guns would reveal operational details police like to keep confidential.
Winnipeg police have been armed with Tasers for a little over a year.
-- With files from the Canadian Press
mary.agnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca
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