by Dan Karpenchuk in Toronto
27-11-2007
A heated debate has opened in Canada over the police use of stun weapons, such as tasers. The controversy came in the wake of the death of a Polish immigrant who died shortly after being hit with a taser at Vancouver International Airport on 14 October.
The incident was captured on amateur video. Now there are growing calls across the country for a ban on the police use of the weapon.
Canadians were horrified by the video of the last moments of 40-year-old Robert Dziekanski. He had arrived at the Vancouver Airport from Poland to join his mother in Canada. But he was kept waiting in a secure area of the airport for ten hours. He became agitated, then unruly, throwing furniture. Police were called and the officers who arrived at the scene decided to use a taser.
Death within minutes
Dziekanski was hit twice with the 50-thousand volt taser, then pinned to the ground by the four officers. He died within minutes. When the Royal Canadian Mounted Police released the amateur video of the incident, it was soon shown worldwide through the media. News Internet sites and talk shows were flooded with disgusted and angry callers.
The four offices involved in the incident have been re-assigned pending an investigation. Most of the provincial attorney generals acknowledge that the video of Dziekanski's death was disturbing. But at a recent meeting they shied away from an outright ban or moratorium. Some such as British Columbia's attorney general, Wally Oppal, said it could be time to take another look at the weapon:
"There have always been concerns about the taser when we did the Royal Commission on the Police in the 90s. The issue was raised to whether or not it's practical for the police to use the taser. There have been thousands of incidents when the taser has been used in North-America. By and large it worked well. However there have been some terribly tragic consequences from the use of the taser and maybe it's time to do a re-examination after whether or not it is appropriate to use."
International reaction
There was also strong international reaction to the Dziekanski incident itself. And the video raised many questions especially for people such as Piotr Ogrodzinski, Poland's ambassador to in Ottawa:
"An obvious question to us was why the four RCMP officers had to use tasers instead of simply apprehending and handcuffing Dziekanski. There were four against one. What is special about the Canadian police is simply the fact that they possess this instrument in such a large quantity." In the wake of the incident Canada's ambassador to Poland was summoned to the foreign ministry in Warsaw to answer questions. Poland wants justice, many there want the RCMP officers involved, punished.
The head of the commission for public complaints against the RCMP also fears police may be overusing the taser. Paul Kennedy is investigating Dziekanski's death and his report to the federal government is due by mid December.
"One of my goals is not only to improve policing, but it is to restore and maintain the public's confidence in the police. If we do not have the public confidence, the police cannot be as effective as it can be. And then we're all in trouble."
Review planned
Last weekend the country's top police officer, William Elliott, the head of the RCMP broke his silence on the issue. Although he defended the use of tasers by police, he said there would be a review.
The premier of British Columbia has formally apologized to the mother of Robert Dziekanski, and announced a full public inquiry into his death.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) has promised sweeping changes to its treatment of international arrivals. In an internal report released yesterday, the CBSA promised more cameras, improved interpreter services and the option of more patrols and security checks within the CBSA secure area at Vancouver International Airport.
Tags:
airport,
Canada,
Dziekanski,
Polish,
RCMP,
Taser,
Vancouver
Marc,
21-12-2007
- RSA
It certainly does seem that Canada teeters between being a nanny state and something else - I would not have used the term police state quite so readily until now, but I have seen how they have a continuous philosophical wrestling match between free speech and those who utter things that are at odds with their version of what should be uttered. More than a touch of 1984. However, here we have a taser that zaps the custodee or suspect with 50kV and in some cases they would have been better off with a mere maiming by an ordinary bullet. After all, if your pacemaker goes off-duty, you might as well have taken a fatal shot to the head. Four guys could surely have restored normal compliant behaviour to someone throwing furniture around, although I accept that must have been quite annoying.
David Troetschel,
08-12-2007
- USA
The use of a tazer is an alternative to a gun, But its use should be used in the same situation that you would use a gun. It just does'nt kill the target in most situations. possibly Dziekanski had a health condition that made him more vulnerable to the use of the tazers.
Jan Velema,
28-11-2007
- CANADA
Canada is a police state. Police literally get away with murder. When a police officer is killed the police forces carry on like they are better than the general population, everyone is so sad. Police forces are legal GANGS. I am embarassed for CANADA.
Lyn Free,
lfvetnya@yahoo.com,
28-11-2007
- United States
It's a tragic and disturbing story. Canada really is too close to the USA in law enforcement matters. Here in the USA these taser weapons are used extensively and are often used on handcuffed suspects and prisoners. It's a disgrace that these weapons are so popular. I wish the international community would protest their existence and proliferation. We in the US have already given law enforcement too many tasers and too much leeway. I hope Canada can curb their use of these horrible deadly weapons.
Michael,
28-11-2007
- USA
Are tasers really 100% safe as claimed by Taser International? What about those who wear pacemakers to their heart, those who got their heartbeat quite fast, even to the point of out of breath, but still breathing, and after doing strenuous activities such as running and exercise? What about when someone under a great deal of stress and his heart beating quite fast such as the Dziekanski case at the Canada Airport? I think those who have stress problems and then gets tasered, and more stress added? Is stress the number one killer?
Dan Peters,
danpeters3@aol.com,
28-11-2007
- USA
Taser Death? Until the results of the autopsy are in, it is premature to jump to any conclusions about Dziekanski’s death. But we do know that Dziekanski died sometime after being shot with Taser…not immediately after. We also know that electricity does not stay in the body and once a Taser shock is over…it’s over. There are no lasting effects. And, we know that the Taser has NEVER been cited as the cause of ANY death. A death AFTER the use of a Taser does not mean a death CAUSED by the Taser any more than a death AFTER the use of Pepper Spray means that Pepper Spray caused the death. Organizations like Amnesty International, who quote statistics about deaths AFTER Taser use and deaths AFTER Pepper Spray use are misleading to say the least.
The amperage from the Taser is measured in milliamps. Amperage, not volts, is what harms or kills. The Taser, by design, is not capable of causing death because it does not produce enough amperage to affect the heart.
If one were to view the beginning of the Dziekanski video, it is obvious from his heavy breathing and strange behavior that his body is under tremendous stress. It appears as if Dziekanski was on his way out long before the police arrive.
Knowing the facts, the obvious conclusion is that the Taser shock did not cause a cardiac arrest. Of course, only the coroner’s report will tell us for sure. Until then, it is best to wait for the results and not to speculate, create media hype, sensationalize, or perpetuate myths.
Michael,
27-11-2007
- USA
Police should be using the taser gun only when the police and/or the person a danger. This was not the case with Dziekanski who was brutally tasered and died by the stick fingers quick trigger happy police. There were two other incidents regarding tasering deaths some time after being tasered, the after effects, as far as I know, one died four hours later, and the other died 30 hours later. I am very concerned for those with wearing pace makers for their heart. 50,000 volts kills!!! The manufacturer of taser guns international just denied taser are dangerous for maintaining profits to their selfish pockets out of disrespect to the victims. How sad.
Democracy,
27-11-2007
- GCC
The police are trigger happy, they fire the taser without handcuffing the suspect. They are the real terrorists...Canada's airports are not safe for travellers because at any move that they don't like, taser is the answer. I advise to travellers to avoid Canada for your own safety...
jasmin,
27-11-2007
- India
It is so shocking and cruel. In fact it shoudn't be used even for criminals. Taser should be banned.
Jim,
27-11-2007
- Canada
The outrage over this, and other Police abuse with electric guns is raging on Talk-Radio call-in shows here in Canada.
Dziekanski was electrocuted by our Police, and I believe the Zap Happy Police officers responsible should be criminally charged with Manslaughter or Murder.
In excess of 300 North American citizens have died mmediately after being electrocuted by police in the past couple of years.
The Police appear to be routinely using the Taser Electric Guns as pain compliance devices, and then they lie about the circumstances of the necessity for the usage if the victim dies, as the RCMP publically did in the case of Mr Dziekanski, before the Eyewitness Video was released by the Citizen Journalist.
