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Look, you don't need to use guns, tasers, or head-smashing-into-concrete to diffuse a situation: http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/...28294-sun.html
Kudos to cops after brawl
By NADIA MOHARIB, SUN MEDIA
Senior officers are giving a group of cops kudos for the restraint they showed in defusing a volatile situation with a naked man yesterday.
The incident, which saw an officer repeatedly punched, a police dog attacked and at least a half-dozen officers needed to restrain a man, occurred as police nationwide are under fire by everyone from pundits to taxpayers on the heels of high-profile cases where Tasers were used to subdue suspects.
Insp. Luch Berti said he hopes the cops' skilful handling of yesterday's explosive situation provides something of a rebuttal to critics who accuse police of being trigger-happy in ramping up use-of-force actions.
"He used a lot of discretion and restraint," Berti said of the first officer, who arrived at the scene by himself.
"He could have made a lot of other choices on escalation of use of force."
Berti added the incident underscores not only the perils cops can face, but a possible scenario where a Taser might be an appropriate tool.
"This is my opinion, but a Taser would have put him in a position where he was unable to resist," he said. "It could have ended the fight a lot sooner, putting the officer and subject in a safer position."
At about 3 a.m., cops were called after citizens saw a naked man, about 5-ft.-11 and more than 250 lbs., walking in the street near the Calgary Zoo.
The first officer arrived, saw the man was in distress, and called for an ambulance and back-up.
The officer was trying to talk with the man when he "yelled at him and started punching with both fists," Berti said, adding the officer was struck in the face several times.
"He was kicking and punching the officer, who was basically in a fight for his life."
A minute or two later, a K9 unit arrived, sending in a dog as the still-combative man repeatedly claimed to be a devil worshipper.
The dog was punched and rolled on by the man.
Berti said, in the end, it was sheer force and numbers that defused the situation.
It took five officers to restrain the man, who said he had used crystal meth and pot.
Doctors suspected he was suffering from excited delirium -- an altered state of consciousness that made him a danger to himself and others.
Calgary Police Association director John Dooks said excited delirium cases are "very volatile and unpredictable," with officers having to constantly re-assess the appropriate level of force required.
Dooks commended the officers for their actions -- and the fact no one suffered serious harm.
"I think they did really well given the circumstances," he said.
"Not every situation will conclude like this, there will always be potential for tragic outcome."
K9 unit Sgt. Shawn Sykes said the service dog, Pix, is expected to make a full recovery after the brawl in which charges are pending.
"He's a little sore, but doing OK," said Sykes.
By NADIA MOHARIB, SUN MEDIA
Senior officers are giving a group of cops kudos for the restraint they showed in defusing a volatile situation with a naked man yesterday.
The incident, which saw an officer repeatedly punched, a police dog attacked and at least a half-dozen officers needed to restrain a man, occurred as police nationwide are under fire by everyone from pundits to taxpayers on the heels of high-profile cases where Tasers were used to subdue suspects.
Insp. Luch Berti said he hopes the cops' skilful handling of yesterday's explosive situation provides something of a rebuttal to critics who accuse police of being trigger-happy in ramping up use-of-force actions.
"He used a lot of discretion and restraint," Berti said of the first officer, who arrived at the scene by himself.
"He could have made a lot of other choices on escalation of use of force."
Berti added the incident underscores not only the perils cops can face, but a possible scenario where a Taser might be an appropriate tool.
"This is my opinion, but a Taser would have put him in a position where he was unable to resist," he said. "It could have ended the fight a lot sooner, putting the officer and subject in a safer position."
At about 3 a.m., cops were called after citizens saw a naked man, about 5-ft.-11 and more than 250 lbs., walking in the street near the Calgary Zoo.
The first officer arrived, saw the man was in distress, and called for an ambulance and back-up.
The officer was trying to talk with the man when he "yelled at him and started punching with both fists," Berti said, adding the officer was struck in the face several times.
"He was kicking and punching the officer, who was basically in a fight for his life."
A minute or two later, a K9 unit arrived, sending in a dog as the still-combative man repeatedly claimed to be a devil worshipper.
The dog was punched and rolled on by the man.
Berti said, in the end, it was sheer force and numbers that defused the situation.
It took five officers to restrain the man, who said he had used crystal meth and pot.
Doctors suspected he was suffering from excited delirium -- an altered state of consciousness that made him a danger to himself and others.
Calgary Police Association director John Dooks said excited delirium cases are "very volatile and unpredictable," with officers having to constantly re-assess the appropriate level of force required.
Dooks commended the officers for their actions -- and the fact no one suffered serious harm.
"I think they did really well given the circumstances," he said.
"Not every situation will conclude like this, there will always be potential for tragic outcome."
K9 unit Sgt. Shawn Sykes said the service dog, Pix, is expected to make a full recovery after the brawl in which charges are pending.
"He's a little sore, but doing OK," said Sykes.
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