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B.C. transit police tasered fare-dodgers: reports
David Hogben, Canwest News Service Published: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
VANCOUVER -- Vancouver-area transit police will be included in a public inquiry into the use of Tasers by B.C. police officers after reports the stun guns were used on at least four non-violent transit users in the past year.
Former justice Thomas Braidwood, who is conducting two inquiries into Taser use, said Tuesday he will examine reports that passengers -- primarily those who had failed to pay their fares -- were tasered by SkyTrain transit police.
B.C.'s SkyTrain police are the only armed transit police force in Canada.
"That is unique and we will look at it," he said of the Taser reports.
Mr. Braidwood's comments followed a Vancouver Sun column Tuesday that showed Tasers had been used four times against non-violent passengers.
The information, obtained by Vancouver writer Gordon Keast under Freedom of Information legislation, also showed that SkyTrain police have used the stun gun on 10 occasions since last July.
TransLink spokesman Peter Lowe said he couldn't comment on the reports, noting that the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority has its own police board and know the issue.
"They have to address it themselves," he said. "We cannot respond on behalf of the transit police."
Calls to transit police spokesman Sgt. Willie Merenick weren't returned Tuesday. Instead, he was planning to send out a statement via TransLink Tuesday evening.
Provincial Attorney General John van Dongen confirmed that 93 officers in the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority were trained to the same standards as other B.C. police officers and are also subject to the same complaint process.
When asked if the use of Tasers was appropriate, Mr. van Dongen said the public inquiry will examine that issue. The review is expected to wrap up by the end of June.
The provincial attorney general ordered two inquiries into the use of Tasers by police officers following the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, shortly after he was Tasered by RCMP at Vancouver International Airport last October.
The first inquiry is to examine and report on the use of Tasers by B.C. police officers [other than the federally regulated RCMP], sheriffs and correctional officers.
That inquiry is set for May in Vancouver. Mr. Braidwood said submissions have already been received from police agencies, including the RCMP, psychiatrists, heart specialists, emergency room physicians and the public.
The second inquiry into the death of Mr. Dziekanski is to follow the completion of the RCMP investigation into his death.
NDP MLA Jenny Kwan called for halt on the use of Tasers by SkyTrain police Tuesday after learning the weapon has been used against non-violent passengers.
"There should be a moratorium on the use of Tasers until the policy is clarified, especially when the individual is unarmed and is not displaying violence," Ms. Kwan said in an interview.
Ms. Kwan, whose Vancouver-Mount Pleasant riding is bisected by the SkyTrain, said it is also troubling that the Tasers could be particularly dangerous to mentally ill or drug addicted persons, persons who might be among the fare evaders.
Documents obtained by Mr. Keast indicate the "use of force" policy governing the use of Tasers by SkyTrain police states they can be used when "the situation demands control over a non-compliant, suicidal, potentially violent, or violent individual, and lower force options were ineffective in controlling the individual or were inappropriate given the circumstances."
The four incidents in which Tasers were used against non-violent fare passengers are:
• In 2007, "subject refused to obey officers' commands after being evicted from a local restaurant. The Taser was deployed and subject taken under control."
• In 2007, "subject ran from officers during a ‘fare blitz.'" Taser was deployed as the subject fled.
• In 2007, "subject was checked on SkyTrain and had no valid fare receipt." Taser was deployed after subject attempted to flee when officer discovered an outstanding warrant for arrest.
• In 2008, subject would not identify himself while being checked for fare on SkyTrain. During arrest subject "became unco-operative and grabbed onto the platform railing and refused to let go." Taser was deployed "after several warnings."
I suppose it's an effective way to stop them from running, but it's also pretty extreme, no?
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