Conducted Energy Weapon

The RCMP is pleased to provide factual information on the Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW) that makes up part of the tool kit used by trained officers.

The CEW was adopted in December of 2001 as another means to obtain compliance from resistant or combative subjects when police must arrest them. The tool allows police at such times to protect the public, and the subjects themselves, from harm.

The decision to do this followed several months of research, analysis, consultation with experts, and testing to ensure the tool was safe and effective.

A complete training program was also developed, and units were distributed to members only upon successful completion of this training.

New research in the area of the CEW is continuously monitored and reviewed by the RCMP in order that policies, protocols and training may be enhanced.

The information on this web page will outline this history in greater detail, describe the tool itself and how it works, and provide the policing framework into which the tool fits.

Chronology of Events

2009-07-31
RCMP Response to new Guidelines for the Use of Conducted Energy Weapon in the Province of Alberta

2009-07-24
RCMP Statement on Braidwood Commission Report on Conducted Energy Weapon Use in British Columbia

2009-06-01
RCMP to test M26 Model Conducted Energy Weapons

2009-04-21
Remarks for Commissioner Elliott - Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU)

2009-04-21
RCMP Committed to Canadians
Letter from the Commissioner

2009-03-26
Letter from RCMP Commissioner Elliott to CBC in response to its request for information on the revised RCMP CEW policy.

2009-03-02
Update on 2008 Conducted Energy Weapons (CEW) Testing Results
(Last updated: 2009-03-27)

2009-02-13
Commissioner's Internal Broadcast to Employees

2009-02-12
Remarks for Commissioner Elliott - Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU)

2009-02-03 (Amended)
RCMP Operational Manual - Conducted Energy Weapon (policy)

2008-12-08
Conducted Energy Weapons - Testing Initiated by the RCMP on Electric Output Issues

2008-09-12
RCMP Response to "An Independent Review of the Adoption and Use of Conducted Energy Weapons by the RCMP"

2008-06-18
Commissioner's Internal Broadcast to Employees

2008-06-18
RCMP initial response to release of the final Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP Report on RCMP Use of the Conducted Energy Weapon

2007-12-14
RCMP takes action following the report by the Commission of Public Complaints against the RCMP concerning its use of Conducted Energy Weapon (CEW)