BC police chiefs' worst fears realized

November 2007: A frightening possibility is raised...

(Globe and Mail) Vancouver, BC (22 Nov. 2007) - British Columbia's police chiefs are worried the furor over the case of Robert Dziekanski may discourage officers from using tasers in confrontations when 'split-second' decisions are required, the RCMP's B.C. commander says. "It has been discussed by us as a possible concern," Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass said yesterday from Victoria, where the British Columbia Association of Chiefs of Police is holding a meeting on policing issues. "We worry the impact of some of that publicity might create that reaction in members."... [LINK][LINK]

So what happened to the taser-associated death rate in Canada before and after this stark warning?

Sep. 20, 2007: #16. Claudio Castagnetta, 32 - Quebec City, QC
Oct. 14, 2007: #17. Robert Dziekanski (Polish Citizen), 40 - Vancouver, BC
Oct. 17, 2007: #18. Quilem Registre, 39 - Montreal, QC
Nov. 22, 2007: #19. Howard Hyde, 45 - Halifax, NS
Nov. 24, 2007: #20. Robert Knipstrom, 36 - Chilliwack, BC (just after)

No taser-associated deaths in Canada since then (more than six-months). None.

How about the Canadian police? Are they being slaughtered since they stopped being so damn taser trigger-happy in late-2007?

Canada 2007: [LINK] Four. Latest 5 November 2007.
Canada 2008: [LINK] None to date.

According to The Officer Down Memorial Page [LINK], there have been no deaths (to date) of police officers in Canada since November 2007. None.

It's as if peace has broken out since November 2007.

Maybe Jesus and Buddha and Ghandi and M.L. King and John Lennon were right after all? Do ya think?


Psssssssssssssssssttt is the sound of many pro-taser arguments being deflated.

(This isn't rocket science folks. It really isn't.)


Attention Stockwell Day: Step up man; time to step up.