CCLA BLASTS GOVERNMENT OVER RCMP TASER DEATH

Following the death of a Polish immigrant who had been tasered by the RCMP at the Vancouver airport, CCLA Public Safety Project Director Graeme Norton rapped the federal government for its continuing failure to create an independent audit system for the national police force. "If we had had such a body, it may have been able to act as an early warning system to identify taser-related problems before a tragedy like this occurred," Norton said.

A video, taken at the critical time, shows Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski being tasered by the RCMP less than 30 seconds after being approached by four of their officers. He did not appear to be acting in a combative manner and there was no indication of the police attempting to employ less dangerous options first.

During a television interview, Norton added that, "there should be a moratorium on the use of tasers at least in those situations where lethal force would not otherwise be justified or in the absence of imminent peril to life and limb." Similar comments were made by CCLA General Counsel Alan Borovoy in an interview with the New York Times and at a rally sponsored by the Canadian Polish Congress. A complaint has been filed with the RCMP complaints commission and the government of British Columbia has promised to convene a full public inquiry. Within the past five years, at least seventeen people have died shortly after being tasered.