Brantford Police Service

Conducted Energy Weapon (C.E.W.)

Public Information and Education

What you will learn:

1. How the Conducted Energy Weapon (C.E.W.) operates

2. The current deployment of the C.E.W. in Brantford

3. The planned future deployment of the C.E.W. in Brantford

General Information

The term “Taser” is actually a brand name used by Taser International.

The Taser brand is used by the majority of Police Services across North America.

The Taser is presently the only authorized C.E.W. in Ontario.

When can the police use the C.E.W.?

In situations where it is necessary to gain control of an individual who is behaving in an assaultive manner.

To protect the public and officers from violent individuals, as well as protecting violent individuals from injuring themselves.

What other use of force options do Brantford Police officers have?•Communication (De-escalation

Techniques)•Empty hand control and strikes•O.C. Spray (Pepper Spray)•Expandable Baton•Conducted Energy Weapon (C.E.W.)*•Firearms

*ERT members and supervisors only

How Does a Conducted Energy Weapon Work?

The Conducted Energy Weapon uses energy-charged propelled wires (or direct contact) to interrupt the sensory and motor functions of the nervous system.

How Does a Conducted Energy Weapon Work?

• The human sensory and motor nervous systems communicate with simple electrical impulses.

• The C.E.W. mimics these electrical impulses causing stimulation of the nerves that control movement.

• This stimulation temporarily immobilizes a subject by causing the subject's muscles to contract.

• The C.E.W. does NOT affect the central nervous system.

Nervous System in the human body Central Nervous System

Command center (brain and spinal cord) processes information and makes decisions

Sensory Nervous SystemNerves that carry information from the body to the brain (touch, temperature, etc.)

Motor Nervous SystemNerves that carry commands from the brain to the muscles to control movement

Note: The CEW affects BOTH the sensory and motor nerves and does not affect the Central Nervous system

Is a Conducted Energy Weapon lethal?

•The C.E.W. is not designed to cause death. It is classified as a “Less lethal” use of force option.

•All use of force involves risks to the subject and the Police Officer.

•Pre-existing medical conditions may elevate this risk in certain subjects.

•In some cases the C.E.W. has been found to have a “proximal” (not a direct) connection to the death of some subjects.

How powerful is the C.E.W. (Volts and Amps)

•The CEW can produce 50,000 volts. However, the actual peak voltage across the body is 1,300 volts

•The peak output current is about 3 amperes on average

Consider this…Electricity and Voltage

Carpet static electricity discharge

30,000 Volts

The CEW – X26 Taser

50,000 Volts

The Van De Graaff

Generator (Ontario

Science Centre)1,000,000+Volts

Consider this……Electricity and Amperage/Current

A Christmas Tree Bulb1.0 Amp

The CEW – X26 Taser3.0 Amps

A standard 110 V Wall Outlet15.0 Amps

Currently, who in the Brantford Police Service is

permitted to carry the CEW?•Since 2006 the C.E.W. has been carried by

Brantford police officers that are tactical team members or front line supervisors (Sergeants).

•This amounts to approximately 16% of our community patrol officers having immediate access to a C.E.W.

Currently, who in the Brantford Police Service is

permitted to carry the CEW?

•In 2013 The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services approved the expanded deployment of C.E.W.’s to all front line police officers.

•This expanded deployment has not yet taken place within the Brantford Police Service

Why Does the Chief of Police want C.E.W.s to be issued to all

front-line officers?

•To ensure all approved use of force options are available to all front-line officers, 100% of the time.

•The C.E.W. is an appropriate use of force option that can help promote and maintain public and officer safety.

Why Does the Chief of Police want CEWs to be issued to all

front-line officers?Juries from numerous Coroners Inquests in Ontario have recommended that the C.E.W. be deployed to all front line police officers:

▫ Lamonday (2005)▫ Vass (2006)▫ Christopher-Reid (2007)▫ Knight (2008)▫ Douglas (2008)▫ Black (2009)▫ Trevor Colin Graham (2009)▫ Foldi (2009)▫ Jones (2012)

What training will the officers receive?

•All officers will complete 16 hours of C.E.W. training to qualify to carry the device.

•This is 4 hours more than the provincial requirement.

•Annually thereafter, officers will complete 8 hours of C.E.W. refresher training.

Will this training include de-escalating a situation to avoid using

force?•This training includes; de-escalation

techniques, practical deployments and judgement scenarios.

•Brantford Police officers also receive annual training on mental health, tactical communications, and dealing with persons in crisis.

•Mental health training for Brantford Police officers is developed in consultation with mental health professionals.

Thank You

If you are interested in learning more about the C.E.W., its use by members of the Brantford Police Service, and the proposed expanded deployment, we invite you to attend one of our information sessions.

1. July 24, 2014, 2:00 p.m.2. July 24, 2014, 6:00 p.m.

The information sessions will be held in the Community Room and the Brantford Police Service.