1. PRINCIPLES 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 RCMP Sheriffs
Determining the appropriate use-of-force measure to apply: general use-of-force training                    
“Each agency is responsible for creating their own use-of-force policy and determining how [CEW] devices fit into their use-of-force matrix based on legal √ √     √ √         √     √ √   √
and community standards. Make sure your agency has a use-of-force policy that addresses [CEW] device use and that this policy is clearly addressed during end-user training.” (TI v.13, v.14)1
Training materials include the National Use-of-Force Framework (NUFF) to guide CEW use.             √   √   √ √ √        
Training materials include the Incident Management/Intervention Model (IM/IM) to guide CEW use.       √           √           √  
Principles of the IM/IM:
(1) The primary objective of any intervention is public safety.
(2) Police officer safety is essential to public safety.		       √           √           √  
(3) The intervention model must always be applied in the context of a careful assessment of risk.
(4) Risk assessment must take into account the likelihood and extent of life loss, injury, and damage.
(5) Risk assessment is a continuous process and risk management must evolve as situations change.
(6) The best strategy is least intervention necessary to manage risk.
(7) The best intervention causes the least harm or damage.
The IM/IM is not a model for justification but a risk assessment tool.       √           √           √  
The CEW is an alternative force options tool.                                 √
The CEW is an intermediate weapon based on the NUFF.             √   √   √ √ √        
The CEW is an intermediate weapon based on the IM/IM.       √           √           √  
The CEW is a close-quarters- to medium-range intermediate weapon.             √                    
The CEW is a medium-range intermediate weapon. (TI v.11)                 √                
The CEW device is not a substitute for lethal force. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √ √   √ √ √ √
CEWs can be used in conjunction with deadly force where appropriate and reasonable to do so.       √           √           √  
Implied and actual uses of the CEW are allowed at active resistance on the NUFF.2             √   √   √ √ √ √      
TASER use is allowed at active resistance on the IM/IM.       √           √           √  
Active resistance—a subject displaying actively resistant behaviour does not physically assault the officer, but actively resists in such a manner that won’t allow                     √            
the officer to control. Often accompanything this type of resistance is “verbal non-compliance” (refusing a lawful order or direction). Examples of this resistance are pushing or pulling away from the officer or attempting to flee.
Active resistance can include subjects who are non-compliant; pull away; twist and turn; resist control; “turtle” on the ground; prevent arrest; or facilitate escape without assault.                       √          
Active resistance includes holding one’s arms underneath oneself while on the ground.       √           √           √  
Subjects who actively resist will typically pull arms away from controlling officers, run away, hold onto fixed objects, brace themselves in doorways, or “turtle” by                         √        
pulling their arms into their chest area, resisting attempts to straighten the arms.
Active resistance includes resisting an officer’s lawful efforts to take them into custody without attacking the officer.             √   √                
Active resistance—a person who is physically resisting their attempt at control by the person directing overt and defensive physical actions; the person may attempt                               √  
to push or pull away in a manner that does not allow the officer to establish control; may include the person trying to run away, pulling hands away or actively
holding onto an object which defeats the officer’s attempts at physical control, e.g., a person pushing away or struggling defensively while a member attempts to place him/her into the back of a police vehicle.
Passive resistance includes not complying with verbal commands.                       √          
The use of the CEW is supported when lower levels of force are ineffective and/or inappropriate and where higher levels of force would be inappropriate or not justified.                       √          
CEWs are to be used as a control weapon against an active resister or assailant where other forms of control or weapons would be ineffective or inappropriate under the circumstances.                                 √
Included in the training materials is a chart relating to TASER® International, Inc.’s “Use-of-Force Police Survey.” The survey shows that 87% of departments surveyed in √ √     √ √         √     √ √   √
the U.S. most commonly use the CEW at or before pepper spray on the use-of-force continuum.  Nine percent use the CEW above pepper spray, and 3% use the CEW at impact weapon on the use-of-force continuum. (TI v.13, v. 14)
Many situations beginning as standoffs have the potential to escalate to lethal force.  Early use of a CEW can prevent many of these situations from escalating to lethal force levels. (TI v.12)     √                            
Officers may act to prevent an event; often need to go one level higher on the IM/IM to establish control.       √           √           √  
Specific use-of-force training                                  
Push-stun mode                                  
To use a CEW in push-stun mode, a minimum of active resistance is required.             √   √     √ √        
Probe mode                                  
To use a CEW in probe mode, requires a minimum of assaultive behaviour is required.             √   √       √        
Probe mode may be used on subjects displaying combative or assaultive behaviour or higher.             √   √       √        
Subject specific considerations                                  
Although several subjects armed with firearms have been incapacitated by CEW devices and safely apprehended, there have been cases where subjects have √ √     √ √                 √    
been able to discharge a firearm after being struck with a CEW device.  Always ensure you have cover and other available force options when attempting to incapacitate an armed subject with a CEW device. (TI v.14)
Active resistance includes holding one’s arms underneath oneself while on the ground.       √           √           √