 |  | ||||
|
HICI Special Report: Tasers center of public safety debate Saturday, November 17, 2007 Canada Reassigns Police Over Taser Death Associated Press VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada (AP) -- Four police officers involved in the death of a Polish immigrant from a Taser stun gun have been reassigned, officials said Saturday. Federal police commissioner William Elliott would not say how long the officers would be assigned to other duties. He acknowledged that images of Robert Dziekanski's death in a videotape shot by a bystander are "disturbing for anyone who sees them." The 40-year-old Dziekanski, of Gliwice, Poland, was shot by officers using a Taser stun gun a month ago at Vancouver International Airport. Elliott said, however, it would be inappropriate for anyone "to draw conclusions based on these images alone." He defended the use of Tasers by the force, saying they are safe and effective in most cases, but called for a thorough review of the incident. "This serious event deserves a comprehensive and complete examination," said Elliott, whose comments were prompted by the public outrage that ensued after video footage of the incident was released this week. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said they are reviewing Taser use. Eighteen people have died in Canada after being hit with a Taser in the last four years. The man who shot the videotape, Paul Pritchard, said he initially thought that police acted appropriately. But he said he has changed his mind after watching the videotape, which he lent to police and was returned to him a month later. The video showed officers zapping a distressed Dziekanski twice, 46 seconds after arriving on scene, and then physically subduing him on the floor. Dziekanski died at the scene. "He wasn't acting violent in any way. That's what is most disturbing," Pritchard said. It was Dziekanski's first flight, and was to be the start of a new life with his mother in western Canada. Dziekanski, who spoke only Polish, had begun acting erratically at the airport. He apparently became upset when he did not see his mother after waiting for about 10 hours in the secure baggage area — which she was not allowed to enter. Police used the stun gun as Dziekanski was walking away from them, with his back to them. Elliott said several investigations would be conducted, including those by a homicide unit and the coroner's office in British Columbia and an independent commission that looks into complaints against the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. |
Copyright © 2008 NIE WORLD (www.nieworld.com). All content copyrighted and may not be republished without permission. The News-Journal has no control over and is not responsible for content on other Web sites. Privacy Policy. |