Saskatchewan Police Commission says municipal police officers can carry Tasers
January 21, 2013 - 8:16 AM
REGINA - Municipal police officers across Saskatchewan will be allowed to carry conducted energy weapons, commonly known as Tasers.
After a review that started in 2007, the Saskatchewan Police Commission has decided that individual officers - not just police tactical team members - can use the devices.
The commission says there will be strict controls, including a review each time a Taser is used.
Tasers fire a jolt of electricity that can incapacitate a person and are used by some police forces to deal with violent suspects.
The commission says officers would have to be trained and certified to carry the weapon, which has been linked to more than 25 deaths in Canada.
The Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers, which represents more 1,250 officers, says it's very happy Tasers have been approved.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013