2. CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH CEW DEPLOYMENT IS PROHIBITED                                  
  Municipal Police Forces Other Agencies
  Abbotsford Central Saanich Delta Kitasoo Nelson New West Oak Bay Port Moody Saanich Stl'atl'imx Tribal Police Transit Authority Police Vancouver Victoria West Van Corrections RCMP Sheriffs
Blanket prohibitions                                  
Never use a contact stun with the cartridge still in place.                                 √
Never point at anything you don’t intend to shoot. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Never place finger on trigger unless firing is imminent. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Never place a hand in front of weapon, especially when changing the
cartridge. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14)		 √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Keep the weapon safety switch in the SAFE position until pointed in a safe direction (toward the target). (TI v.12, v.13)     √ √           √           √  
Never aim the laser in the eyes. (TI v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √       √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Laser light can cause eye damage if directed into eyes for prolonged periods of time. (TI v.12)     √ √           √           √  
Probes shot in the eyes can cause serious damage. (TI v.12)     √                            
Areas of the body to avoid unless the situation dictates a higher level of injury risk is justified                
Probe mode                                  
Eyes. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √         √     √ √   √
Head. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √ √   √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Avoid head shots unless there is a risk of death or grievous bodily harm (DGBH).                         √        
Face. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √         √     √ √   √
Throat. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √ √   √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Groin. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Drive-stun with cartridge                                  
Groin. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14)       √     √   √ √     √     √  
Head. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √ √   √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Avoid head shots unless there is a risk of DGBH.                         √        
Throat. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √ √   √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Drive-stun without cartridge                                  
Head.       √     √     √           √  
Avoid head shots unless there is a risk of DGBH.                         √        
Neck. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √ √       √     √ √   √
Groin. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √     √ √ √ √
Throat.       √           √           √  
Trachea.     √           √       √        
Back of neck.     √           √       √        
Groups of people upon whom to avoid CEW application if possible                                
Pregnant women. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
A CEW may be used if the subject is pregnant and the only option is lethal force.       √         √ √     √     √  
Frail or infirm. (TI v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √     √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Very young.                 √       √        
Officers must use caution when the subject is running, but are not prohibited from deploying a CEW on a running or fleeing subject. (TI v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Environmental considerations                                  
CEWs can ignite explosive materials, liquids, or vapours. These include gasoline, other flammables, explosive materials, liquids, or vapours (e.g., gases found in √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
sewer lines or methamphetamine labs). Some self-defense sprays use flammable carriers such as alcohol and could be dangerous to use in immediate conjunction with CEWs. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14)
Fall injuries, particularly from elevated heights, can pose risk of significant injury or death; can cause secondary injuries from person falling. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Elevated risk when subject is in water. (TI v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Medical considerations                                  
Published peer-reviewed research shows that there is no negative effect of the CEW device when used on a subject with a pacemaker. (TI v.13, v.14) √ √     √ √         √     √ √   √
Modern pacemakers and implanted cardiac defibrillators withstand external electrical defibrillators at least 800 times stronger than the CEW conducted energy pulses.       √           √           √  
The CEW is safe and effective for suspects under the influence of drugs or
alcohol. (TI v.12)		     √                            
Cocaine makes the heart less susceptible to electrically induced fibrillation. (TI v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Animal testing has shown insignificant effects on heart rhythms or blood pressure.       √           √           √  
CEW devices have been successfully used to incapacitate subjects under a variety of chemical and mental influences. The CEW device works on people under these √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
influences because it affects the sensory and motor functions of the nervous system (incapacitation). (TI v.13, v.14)
There is a risk of surface burns, wounding, and scarring of the skin during all modes of deployment. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √     √   √   √ √ √   √
Scarring may result from CEW application, depending on length of exposure and skin type.       √         √ √           √  
In a dynamic environment, drive-stun electrodes may slide on the skin of a thrashing subject causing multiple marks, scratches, and scarring, as opposed to single     √               √     √     √
electrode marks if the drive-stun is applied directly without movement.  The severity and duration of these marks, scratches, and scars may vary. (TI v.12, v.13)
There are medical opinions that the output of the CEW exceeds the medical threshold required to cause seizure.                 √       √        
Strong muscle contractions during neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) may cause muscle or tendon strain or tear, joint injuries, back injuries, stress fractures, or other secondary injuries. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √         √     √ √   √
In certain instances, subjects may experience physical exertion type injuries.       √           √           √  
NMI can cause pain and associated stress. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √   √ √         √     √ √   √
Subject may experience stress caused by pain, minor skin irritation or injury, temporary blisters, redness, or minor bleeding if probes puncture skin.
(TI v.12, v.13, v.14)		 √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Other subject considerations                                  
Training materials contain examples of types of subjects involved in effective CEW incidents, without recommending use on these subjects. These types of √ √     √ √         √     √ √   √
subjects include emotionally disturbed persons (EDPs), suicidal subjects, subjects suffering from excited delirium, and subjects under chemical influence. (TI v.13, v.14)
The CEW device can be an effective way to deal with situations involving
suicidal subjects. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14)		 √ √ √   √ √         √     √ √   √
When dealing with suicidal subjects, establish lethal cover as needed.
(TI v.12, v.14)		 √ √ √   √ √         √     √ √   √
CEW technology is becoming widely accepted as the premier tool for crisis intervention teams based upon its non-injurious effect upon emotionally disturbed subjects. (TI v.12)     √                            
There is an increased risk involved with deploying CEW upon someone operating a vehicle or machinery (during all modes of deployment). (TI v.13, v.14) √ √   √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Officer safety                                  
Cartridge safety                                  
Cartridges are deployed by electrical discharge. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Unexpected deployments can be caused by any static discharge. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √ √     √ √ √ √
Do not point cartridges at yourself or at anyone else. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √       √ √     √ √ √ √
Never carry loose live cartridges in pockets as a buildup of static electricity could discharge the probes.                 √       √        
Weapon safety                                  
The CEW looks like a firearm, so treat it like a firearm; observe standard firearm/sidearm safety guidelines. (TI v.11, v.12, v.13)     √         √ √   √   √ √   √ √
Treat this as a loaded weapon. (TI v.12, v.13, v.14) √ √ √ √ √ √     √ √ √   √ √ √ √ √
Remove the cartridge; visually and physically inspect the weapon to ensure it is safe; exercise muzzle control.                 √       √        
Other considerations: CEW dependence                                  
Avoid CEW over-dependence: some agencies have had so much success with CEW devices that officers sometimes neglect proper procedures and other force options. √ √     √ √         √     √ √   √
This is a training issue that must be addressed in all instructor and user courses.  It should also be emphasized in ongoing department training. (TI v.13, v.14)
It is recommended that officers responsible for reviewing CEW use reports be cognizant of potential for over-dependence and address any concerns of CEW over-dependence early. (TI v.14) √ √     √ √                 √    
Nothing is ever 100% effective so do not become CEW dependent. (TI v.12)     √ √         √ √           √  
No force option is 100% effective.             √           √