Canada's RCMP watchdog says the Mounties need to limit the use of Tasers -- and fire the weapon only on combative suspects or those who pose "deadly" or "grievous bodily harm."

Paul Kennedy's final report on Taser use by police found that the Mounties are using the electronic stun guns too frequently. He recommended that only RCMP officers with the rank of corporal or above -- or have five or more years of experience, if they serve in rural areas with fewer officers -- be allowed to carry Tasers.

Kennedy said on CTV's Mike Duffy Live that the core of his report was that police officers need to treat the device like it's a weapon.

"Make no doubt about it, it is a pain compliance device," he said. "There is no doubt, it is a weapon."

Kennedy noted that officers should only be allowed to use Tasers when the suspect is combative or poses deadly or grievous harm to officers, bystanders, or him or herself.

"If the RCMP cannot account for the use of this weapon and properly instruct its members to appropriately deploy the (conducted energy weapon) ... then such use should be prohibited until prompt and strict accountability and training measures can be fully implemented," he wrote.

But Kennedy did not advocate banning the weapon permanently or all together.

"It has a place in tools available to police," he said. "Clearly anybody given the choice between being shot or Tasered, would prefer to be Tasered."

Kennedy said he was concerned that many officers, particularly rookies, were using the device before even using a baton or "soft-hands" tactics such as holds and arms locks.

He said there is a shortage of mentoring for young officers on using other tools such as negotiating before using a Taser, as well. He said that the mentoring needs to come "on the street."

Government accepts

Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said in a statement that the government "accepts the report and its recommendations in principle."

"(RCMP Commissioner William Elliott) has indicated to me that he intends to act on the recommendations in a manner that takes into consideration the operational requirements of the RCMP," Day said.

"We agree on the need to move forward in ways that will help to maintain the safety of the public and the men and women that protect our communities."

For his part, Elliott said, "We will act on the recommendations as quickly as possible to provide clearer direction to our members, to further restrict situations in which the (Taser) can be deployed, and to develop and implement measures to enhance accountability and to promote officer and public safety."

Police analyst John Muise called Kennedy's report "very fair."

"(Kennedy) doesn't sound like someone who is anti-community or anti-police ... To say to only use the Taser when (the situation) is combative or worse is probably where we should be using it," Muise told CTV Newsnet following Kennedy's press conference.

RCMP policy classifies Tasers as an "intermediate" device, placing it in the same category as pepper spray. That classification allows Mounties to use the weapon when someone is deemed "resistant."

Kennedy reiterated his recommendation from an earlier draft that Tasers be reclassified as an impact weapon. Such a classification would be connected to a higher standard for when officers are allowed to employ the weapons.

Other recommendations from the report include:

  • The RCMP needs to collect more and better data on Taser use
  • The RCMP needs to clarify to its members when it is permissible to use weapon
  • Officers must seek immediate medical attention for suspects who are Tasered

Kennedy was reportedly going to make his report public last week, but he apparently held off so that he could meet with Day.

Day had called for the report following the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski last October. Dziekanski died after being Tasered by police during a confrontation at the Vancouver International Airport.

Several provincial and national probes were launched into Taser use across the country after the high-profile death, which made international headlines after images of the incident were put up on YouTube.

Crown prosecutors in B.C. are currently assessing a separate report by the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team -- which includes officers from a variety of police agencies -- to see if charges will be laid against police officers involved in the Dziekanski case.

With files from The Canadian Press