The Sûreté du Québec has just extended $6 million to purchase 528 Taser guns in order to reduce as much as possible the use of firearms by its agents. However, there is no question of disarming the police.
The provincial police are not skimping on the price to refresh their arsenal of electrical impulse weapons. Its agents will soon be able to patrol equipped with Taser 10 devices, the latest model.
To do this, the headquarters on rue Partenais concluded a private contract worth close to $6 million with the Canadian company Axon. The acquisition of the new electric guns will be carried out over a period of five years. The new devices will gradually replace the 389 Tasers X2 that the SQ currently has.
- Listen to the interview with Stéphane Wall, retired SPVM supervisor specializing in judicious use of force on Alexandre Dubé’s show via QUB radio :
The last option
The police force’s objective is to reduce the use of real revolvers. “The main reason is to give our police officers more tools to avoid the use of firearms in certain situations,” underlines spokesperson Ann Mathieu.
“Technically, in all our interventions, the firearm is the last option we want to use. “It’s when we have no choice, when it’s really a question of protecting life,” adds the lieutenant.
Several coroners have recommended in recent years that more police officers be equipped with electrical impulse devices. This was particularly the case at the end of the public inquiry into the death of itinerant Alain Magloire, who lost his life during a police intervention in 2014 in Montreal.
“The police are armed”
But increasing the number of Tasers within law enforcement will not reduce the firearms equipment of SQ bloodhounds. “The police are armed,” insists Ann Mathieu. Each situation is different and can change quickly.”
Former SPVM police officer, Stéphane Wall believes that the new model of electric gun has many advantages over older devices. The police officer using it can deploy up to ten probes (projectiles) on a suspect, knowing that they do not always reach their target. “It’s an incredible step forward compared to the previous model,” he emphasizes.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY AXON
And the Taser 10 is effective at a greater distance, up to 45 feet. Currently, officers must approach within 15 feet of the threatening person in order to intervene.
“It’s really going to be a breakthrough, because the distance is longer and it gives more reaction time, more time to de-escalate a situation. The projection speed is improved compared to old models and even the voltage has been reduced,” adds the expert.
“We don’t die”
The shock which causes muscular neutralization for five seconds allows the responders to control and handcuff the suspect.
“The more functioning intermediate weapons we have, the less chance we have of being forced to use the service weapon,” insists Stéphane Wall. When the Taser is deployed, when you see someone falling to the ground, it’s always a spectacular image, but you don’t die from the use of the Taser, so that’s why coroners recommend it.
Electric pulse weapons
- Current arsenal at the Sûreté du Québec: 389 Tasers X2
- Private contract awarded to Axon Public Safety Canada Inc.: acquisition of 528 Taser 10s over a period of 60 months
- Cost of acquiring electric guns: $5,993,282.72
- The old model will no longer be used after a year or two following the delivery of the new electric pulse weapons
- Police officers who can use the Taser must have received basic training and, where applicable, recognized annual requalifications from the National Police Academy of Quebec