The following is the original version submitted to the National Post's Op-Ed page by the Commissioner of the RCMP on April 21, 2009.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, both as symbol and as a national law enforcement agency, is a source of great pride and historical significance for Canadians. For 136 years, the RCMP has played a central role in Canada's development.
The pride our officers take in our heritage and their role as Canada's national police force cannot be overstated. That is why events of the recent past have caused considerable anguish within the force as we grapple with complex issues under the glare of the media's spotlight.
Public scrutiny is fundamental to maintaining the accountability of public institutions. The RCMP should be and is held to a very high standard given the extraordinary powers entrusted to us.
It is, therefore, crucially important that the public be given access not just to headline‑making events, good or bad, but also to the broader picture of how the RCMP operates. Anything that erodes the public's confidence is cause for concern ‑‑ without that support, the RCMP cannot be effective.
As Commissioner of the RCMP, it is my job to ensure that we hear and understand the communities we serve and that the public is fully apprised of our practices and policies. It is within this context that I'd like to discuss the RCMP's approach to the use of CEWs in its everyday operations.
Of all the policing activity the RCMP conducted in 2008 in response to some 7500 calls for service a day‑‑over 3 million a year‑‑only .04 percent involved CEWs, and of that number, less than three per cent resulted in injury requiring medical attention.
There are approximately 18,000 RCMP officers and about a third of them are certified to use the CEW. In 2008, the CEW was "deployed" by the RCMP in about three incidents a day across the country. This includes everything from referring to the CEW, unholstering it or actual use. In fact, simply showing the weapon accounted for nearly half of all deployments.
The CEW has proven itself time and again in the vast majority of cases, to be an effective weapon in controlling situations without causing major injury or harm. However, it is a weapon and must be used responsibly. The RCMP is keenly aware that we must constantly assess our policies and practices and be ready to make appropriate changes.
We have done that already by further restricting situations in which the CEW can be deployed and, as independently reported by the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, deployments have declined 30 per cent. We will make further adjustments as appropriate.
The incident in Vancouver's airport that resulted in the tragic death of Mr. Robert Dziekanski is currently being examined in the Braidwood Inquiry. We will continue to cooperate fully in the inquiry and take whatever action is appropriate to improve our policies and practices relating to 'Tasers', or conducted energy weapons (CEWs).
RCMP officers face dangerous, unpredictable situations every day. They often deal with individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and intervene with people who are angry and upset. Events can quickly spiral out of control. In the moment, quick judgement, confidence and highly skilled responses are required. Through training and monitoring, we prepare our officers for this.
The policing environment is rapidly changing as violent crime escalates and criminals become more sophisticated. We are constantly seeking to improve the RCMP and honour our deep and long‑standing commitment to Canadians. As part of these efforts, we have launched a comprehensive Transformation Initiative and we are making remarkable progress.
Since becoming Commissioner, one of my greatest privileges has been to formally recognize hundreds of RCMP employees for their decades of loyal service and to decorate dozens for selfless acts of courage. I have been called upon to attend services honouring those who have lost their lives in the service of their fellow citizens.
I have also met hundreds of RCMP employees across Canada who coach sports teams, lead youth groups and help neighbours in need. On or off the job, these men and women are committed to their country and their fellow citizens.
The RCMP is not a perfect organization and given the kind of work we do, there is very little margin for error. We have to be honest about our weaknesses and acknowledge our mistakes.
Canadians have a right to expect nothing but the best from their RCMP officers. I want to assure them that our officers expect no less from themselves.
William J. S. Elliott
