Vancouver police will continue to use Tasers until officers review the reasons behind an RCMP announcement on Thursday curbing the use of stun guns.
Mounties may now only fire a Taser if there is a real threat to themselves or public safety. They were
also warned that the weapons can kill.
Critics say the Mounties have used Tasers too frequently and often zap suspects who pose no real threat.
Such incidents include people trying to avoid paying fares on public transport, an elderly man who was strapped to a hospital stretcher and a Polish immigrant at Vancouver International Airport. Robert Dziekanski died after being Tasered five times by RCMP officers.
Const. Jana McGuinness, spokesperson for Vancouver police, said she hasn’t seen a report yet.
“I would want to see how it impacts us, and if it does, what are our policies surrounding these things,” she said.
RCMP Chief Commis-sioner William Elliott told a news conference that “there certainly have been some instances where Tasers have been used in inappropriate circumstances.”
