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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-11-28, Page 9News Huron OPP officers have carried tasers for two years Susan H u n d e r t ro a r k 4111111.211511111. While not every officer carries one, Tasers have been used in Huron County for more than two years, says Sgt. Dave Rektor, of OPP Western Region headquarters in London. "Tasers are deployed to all detachments of the OPP. They are a use of force equipment at the intermediate level," he says. Rektor says the public needs to understand that provincial police are trained extensively to use every other method to de-escalate a potentially violent situation before using any kind of weapon. Officers use, at their discretion, either a baton, pepper spray or a Taser as intermedi- ate levels of force when they feel the public's or their own safety is in jeopardy, he says. "The actions of a person would dictate what happens. An officer would have to make a split second decision about what to do to stop the activity and affect an arrest. But, it is not our goal to harm someone," Rektor says. He says OPP officers have been using Tasers since March of 2005 but only higher level officers carry them. Supervisors, sergeants in charge of a platoon and members of an emergency response team are issued tasers. "Tasers are an effective piece of equipment that are useful and valuable. In 99.9 per cent of the situations they are used in, they haven't injured the suspect and they've pre- vented further injury to the suspect," he says. When asked how often tasers are used in Huron County, Rektor says those statistics are only available through headquarters in Orillia. "It's not an everyday incident - Tasers are a selective piece of equipment. But, I wouldn't say rarely," he says. Insp. Dave Ross, of the Orillia OPP head- quarters, says that while the OPP does collect statistics about how often weapons are used, the information is "considered operational in nature so we don't pass it on." Rektor says Tasers immobilize the large muscles in the body for a few seconds, delivering a low amp immo- bilizing shock. He adds that there has never been any evidence in Ontario that anyone has died as a direct result of being Municipality of Huron East FINAL TAXES Property owners are reminded that the due date for the final installment of property taxes is November 30, 2007. B. Knight Treasurer - Finance Manager Tasered. "They have died because of a pre-existing medical condition," he says. Rektor says some officers have chosen to experience a Taser shock, along with being sprayed by pepper spray, in training to be able to feel their effects. "I would do it in a heartbeat," says Rektor. Commenting on the recent incident in Vancouver where a Polish man died after being Tasered by several RCMP officers, Rektor says it's important to wait for the results of the ongoing investigation into the incident. "People will come up to us on the street and say that Tasers have killed people but that's a very premature conclusion. It is a less than lethal option," he says. Rektor says OPP officers would not want to be doing their jobs without a Taser as an option. "It saves lives," he says. Grey firehall has equipment stolen during break -In A break-in at the Grey firehall sometime between noon on Nov 22 and noon on Nov. 23, resulted in the theft of some equipment, reports the Huron OPP. A rear window of the firehall was pried open with a crowbar and suspects stole a chop saw, a generator and two 10 -litre gas cans. Further investigation revealed that the chop saw was later recovered by the Oxford County OPP at a residence. The information was determined because the Grey fire department had logged the serial numbers of all of their equipment, linking the two investigations. The investigation is continuing. If you are unemployed or on El Attend A FREE "Starting Point" Workshop Call The Centre for Employment & Learning TODAY TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS 519-524-2515 519-482-1700 519-235-0471 519-527-0305 519-357-4995 EMPLOYMENT ONTARIO Goderich Clinton Exeter Seaforth Wingham Employment Ontario programs are funded In part by the Government of caned.. The Huron Expositor • November 28, 2007 Page 9 Susan Hundertmark photo Mitch James and Tyler Primeau rock out during a concert last Thursday night of students of Egmondville music teacher Kim Souch. Box Furniture &Floor Coverings 20 Main St. Seaforth (519) 527-0680 www.boxfurniture.ca