Thunder Bay Police Services Board members met Tuesday morning to discuss a variety of issues, one of them being a report on the use of force. The annual report showed that in 2010 the number of reported use of force by officers was 149, up from the 109 reported for 2009.
Below are the reported totals for 2010:
- Firearm pointed -- 41
- Handgun drawn -- 60
- Empty hand -- 37
- Aerosol weapon – 20
- Impact weapon – 7
- Taser – 15
- Tactical Communications – 83
- Other – 10
- Firearm discharged – 44
- Animals destroyed – 44
- Total reports 149
Reported totals for 2009 were less in most categories except for the number of animals destroyed that remained the same. Officers pointed a firearm 30 times, drew a handgun 44, and discharged a firearm 45 times. A Taser was used 10 times.
Police Chief Bob Herman said use of force can include an open-hand technique, pepper spray and the use of a firearm. While the number may have increased, he said it was encouraging to see that the incidents were resolved without the use of deadly force.
"It does cause concern in the aspect that it means (police) are obviously dealing with very volatile situations,” Herman said. “The reality is that because of their training, they were able to resolve those situations quite effectively. We would like to see that number come down but it is certainly reflective of the types of incidents our officers are having to deal with."
It is up to the officer’s discretion on what the appropriate use of force is in any given situation, he added.
Tuesday’s board meeting didn’t focus exclusively on the 2010 use of force statistics. Chief Herman also told board members about the history of community policing in the city. In 1995, 14 police officers worked in designated areas around the city. In a period of five years the officer numbers grew to 18 with often with an officer designated to a city ward.
At the time, police and smaller neighbourhoods worked together to keep an eye on the community. Herman said the community lost interest in its vigilance and the workload rested with police.
That method of community policing was too taxing on the officers and it didn’t provide adequate service, he said. The multiple units, such as the gang unit and the six patrol officers in the city’s north and south cores, provide specific policing needs and utilize officers much more efficiently, he said.
Police board chair Joe Virdiramo said he had received concerns from residents about community policing through emails and wanted Herman to give an overview on the policing methods.
"One of the board members asked about the best practices," Virdiramo said. "We’ll take a look at that and study it and hopefully advise the chief on what the best way to police our community is and getting the best results from our officers."
Board members also heard about the off duty pay jobs for officers. Companies hire the police to provide security such as at events or at the local bus depot. Herman said the officers are off duty and paid by the company not the taxpayers.
"We just don’t have the resources to be able to deploy officers on a daily basis to the bus depot," he said.
