EON

How And When The Weapon Is To Be Utilized Will Be Examined

Vancouver, B.C.- The first phase of inquiry regarding the use of Tasers by the police in British Columbia is to begin today. The initial inquiry is led by British Columbia retired Justice Thomas Braidwood, who will examine the issue and make recommendations based on his findings.

The initial phase will examine the training that police officers get for using the Taser device, the rules in which it can be used, and various medical evidence about usage of the devices.

In a second round of inquiries Justice Braidwood will examine the death and circumstances which surround the events leading up to Robert Dziekanski untimely demise. This part of the inquiry may remain on hold for an indefinite time period as charges have not been decided, if any, in the case and the case is still pending.

Dziekanski was a 40-year-old polish man who was tasered at the Vancouver International Airport in October 2007, who subsequently died after being struck with the Taser device. Mr. Dziekanski did not speak English and had never been on an aircraft before.

Apparently Mr. Dziekanski was confused and wandered around the airport for nearly 10 hours before becoming angry. At the end, just before he was Tasered by police he became violent and tossed a computer off of a desk in the airport terminal.

RCMP officers tried to talk to Mr. Dziekanski but he did not understand, and after no response when Mr. Dziekanski became wild and violent they Tasered him twice.

Shortly afterward Mr. Dziekanski died at the airport, apparently from the Taser device. A subsequent autopsy showed no drugs or alcohol in Mr. Dziekanski’s system.