1. POLICIES FOR CEW USE                                    
  Municipal Police Forces Other Agencies
  Abbotsford Central Saanich Delta Kitasoo Nelson New Westminster Oak Bay Port Moody Saanich Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Transit Authority Police Vancouver Victoria West Vancouver Corrections Previous RCMP Current RCMP Sheriffs
Determining the appropriate use-of-force measure to apply                                    
Verbal communication without the use of force is to be the preferred method of interaction. √ √         √   √       √          
Members are authorized to use approved non-deadly-force techniques and issued equipment for resolution of incidents to bring an unlawful situation safely and effectively under control.   √ √   √ √   √ √ √     √ √        
The CEW is an option to be used in conjunction with a firearm and as an alternative to deadly force, where reasonable and appropriate to do so.           √             √ √        
CEWs are not an alternative to lethal force, but rather can be used in conjunction with lethal force where reasonable and appropriate to do so.   √       √ √   √       √ √        
Police officers will use only that force which is reasonably necessary to effectively and safely bring an incident under control while protecting the life of the officer or another.     √   √ √ √ √ √ √       √        
Any force used by an officer to control another person must be reasonable and justifiable.   √       √     √       √          
Police response is governed by the National Use-of-Force Model. √ √     √           √   √          
A person’s actions will govern the appropriate response by officers in accordance with the Department’s Use-of-Force Framework Model.             √   √                  
A member need not be physically attacked before taking pre-emptive physical measures. Pre-assault cues such as aggressive body language, facial expression,         √         √                
posture, proximity, stance, muscle tension, verbal threats, and non-compliance with commands are all factors which may justify officer use of force.
Members are authorized to use approved non-deadly-force techniques and issued equipment for resolution of incidents to protect themselves or others from physical harm.   √ √     √   √ √       √          
Any force used by an officer should be determined by the actions or lack of compliance by the subject.   √       √     √                  
In making an arrest, an officer will use only such force as is reasonably necessary to secure and detain the offender.                 √                  
An officer should select the appropriate force option that is judged to be the least violent to safely gain control over the subject.   √ √                              
In Canada, the courts have allowed police officers to use a higher level of force than that which they face, commonly known as the “One Plus Theory”. As such,         √         √               √
a member is justified in escalating to a level of force considered to be one higher than that of an offender he or she is attempting to control.  This is
acknowledgement that public safety and the safety of the officer must be considered ahead of that of the offender. Situational dynamics are such that no officer is expected to
attempt each and every “level” of force before proceeding to the next level. Lower levels must be deemed ineffective or inappropriate by members, thus
justifying escalation. CEWs have been approved for use to assist in prisoner management, primarily in cells and prisoner transport.
The following considerations may be a factor in the choice of force options:   √ √   √ √   √   √                
● time and distance
● multiple subjects
● abilities comparison
● demonstrated threat
● special knowledge
● situational environment
Corrections officers may use a reasonable degree of force to prevent injury or death, prevent property damage, prevent an inmate from escaping, or to maintain custody and control of an inmate.                             √      
Force used by officers to carry out a lawful duty is proportional to the risk presented.                             √      
Factors to consider when determining reasonableness of use of force, including whether the officer was acting in good faith, will include:           √ √ √ √       √          
● subject factors: age, size, gender, skills or perceived skills, multiple subjects, weapons, pre-assaultive signs, mentality;
● officer factors: size, age, gender, skill level/physical abilities, exhaustion, injury, ground fighting, perception of threat, imminent danger of death or serious
bodily injury, position, time, distance, proximity to weapon, tactical withdrawal possibility/disengagement;
● environmental factors: friendly/hostile territory, availability of cover, proximity of back-up,  terrain (footing), weather (effectiveness of a force option), lighting (ability to see).
Behavioural grounds warranting CEW use                                    
Combative or non-compliant individual poses a risk of bodily harm to the public or the police. √           √                      
Individual displays active resistance or beyond and the member assesses a threat to officer or public safety on the totality of the circumstances encountered.                                 √  
Individual displays active resistance or beyond.   √   √             √   √     √   √
Subject to situational factors, where persons are displaying active resistance (i.e., resisting an officer’s lawful efforts to take them into custody, without attacking             √   √                  
the officer), and an officer reasonably believes the use of a CEW is appropriate and reasonable, an officer may use the push-stun mode, thereby obtaining compliance from the person.
Where an officer is confronted, or reasonably believes that they will be confronted, by a person who is offering assaultive resistance, or who poses a threat of serious             √   √       √          
bodily harm or death to themselves, the police, or to others, an officer may use the CEW in either the push-stun mode or probe mode.
A CEW shall only be used on subjects who need to be immediately controlled and the member reasonably believes will be actively aggressive/assaultive toward police or others.     √     √             √   √      
A CEW may only be used where the officer perceives that an inmate has intent and means to cause immediate and serious harm to the officer or others; or where an inmate is attempting to escape.                             √      
A CEW may be deployed by a qualified member to gain physical control of a suicidal subject.                     √              
A CEW may be deployed by a qualified member to gain physical control of a violent subject.                     √              
A CEW may be deployed by a qualified member to gain physical control of a potentially violent subject.                     √              
The CEW shall only be deployed on subjects whom a member has reasonable and probable grounds to believe are a danger to themselves or others.     √     √ √           √          
CEW technology is an effective option for incapacitating individuals injurious to themselves.                             √      
CEW technology is an effective option for incapacitating individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol.                             √      
CEW technology is an effective option for incapacitating individuals  being destructive.                             √      
A CEW device is deployed:
● in tactical operations;
● in a cell entry and extraction;
● in response to an escape or escape attempt;		                             √      
● for external prowl, when inmates are in a secure outside yard; and
● as approved by the warden or designate when intervention is required to:
    • prevent self-harm;
    • compel compliance;
    • terminate violent and destructive behaviour;
    • protect safety of staff and inmates; and
    • when less use of force is inappropriate or unreasonable.
Other contextual circumstances to consider in determining if CEW use is appropriate                      
The reasonableness of any CEW use will always be determined by the situational factors and use-of-force protocol.             √   √                  
CEW use allowed only when lower force options were ineffective or inappropriate. √   √     √   √     √ √ √ √       √
Where the use of approved CEWs is judged by an officer to be an appropriate method of control, it may be deployed, having first given consideration to the following factors:         √                          
● the requisite time and distance are present;
● the subject is reasonably contained and officer/public safety is not compromised;
● the officer and/or the subject are not located in flammable or combustible environments.
Use of CEWs to immobilize a physically aggressive or non-compliant inmate is reserved for situations in which the officer perceives that the inmate has the intent and means to                             √      
cause immediate and serious harm to the officer or others or when an inmate is attempting to escape.