Commissioner's Internal Broadcast to Employees

Conducted Energy Weapons Policy

There has been significant media coverage following my appearance before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security on February 12, 2009, to provide an update on the RCMP’s policies, practices, training and reporting requirements relating to Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs). The coverage has, unfortunately, contained some inaccurate information. The following is intended to provide clarity.

Changes to the RCMP’s CEW policies have been developed over the past several months. This work has included consultations with experts both within and outside of the Force. On June 18, 2008, members of the RCMP were instructed that the CEW "must only be used where it is necessary to do so in circumstances of threats to officer or public safety". This requirement was subsequently written into our formal CEW policy which was published on February 3, 2009. The policy is posted on our internet website, as is the statement I provided to the Standing Committee on February 12, 2009 which outlines the policy.

As I informed the Committee, the RCMP continues to believe that the CEW is a useful tool when it is used in appropriate circumstances by well-trained officers and that it contributes to the safety of the public and our police officers. Our obligation, of course, is to ensure our officers are in fact well trained, that our policies are appropriate and that they are followed.

The RCMP has made a number of improvements to our CEW policies, training, practices and reporting requirements. The RCMP has modified and updated its incident management intervention model or "IMIM" to bring it more into line with the model adopted by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police.

As I stated to the Committee, members must recognize that any use of force, including the use of a CEW, entails risk. This requirement is clearly reflected in our policy. The policy also provides "Acutely agitated or delirious persons may be at a high risk of death. If an individual is in an acutely agitated or delirious state, and whenever possible when responding to reports of violent individuals, request the assistance of emergency medical services. If possible bring medical assistance to the scene".

There have been incidents when individuals have died shortly after having been subject to a CEW deployment and it is recognized that there may be some risk that the CEW could be a contributing factor to an individual’s death. However, the RCMP is not aware of evidence that has made a direct connection between the use of a CEW and the death of an individual.

Studies I referred to before the Standing Committee yesterday have concluded "that police and medical personnel should be aware of the potential for injury but these weapons appear to be very safe, especially when compared to other options police have for subduing violent or combative suspects" and "field experience with [CEWs] indicates that exposure is safe in the vast majority of cases. Therefore, law enforcement need not refrain from deploying [CEWs] provided the devices are used in accordance with accepted national guidelines. The potential for moderate or severe injury related to [CEW] exposure is low".

William J.S. Elliott
Commissioner

February 13, 2009