A top RCMP official says the Mounties would consider changing their Taser use policies if a public inquiry provides evidence for such a need.
Gary Bass, the deputy commissioner of the RCMP's Pacific Region, made the comment as B.C. began its inquiry into the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, who died after an incident involving a Taser at Vancouver International Airport in October 2007.
"We are pleased to participate voluntarily with this inquiry or any other process with the goal of ensuring that our policies, techniques, methodologies and equipment are working properly and doing what they were designed to do,'' Bass told The Canadian Press.
The inquiry into Dziekanski's death was launched this week. Dziekanski, an immigrant from Poland, died after a confrontation with police at the airport after his arrival from Europe on October 14. In a witness video of the incident, it appeared that the RCMP used an electric stun gun -- commonly known as a Taser -- at least two times on Dziekanski.
Wally Oppal, B.C.'s attorney general, says the inquiry wants to find out what happened to Dziekanski in the hours leading up to and during the incident. He said it will also look into police use of Tasers in B.C.
"We want to know whether the use of Tasers is appropriate for the police under the circumstances," Oppal told CTV's Canada AM on Tuesday.
"There's been a lot of evidence out there about deaths and other evidence that have been raised since that incident."
Oppal said there has been a call by some to completely ban the use of Tasers, "but I think that would be premature."
He said the inquiry wants to hear from all sides of the argument before making any recommendations.
The inquiry can make findings of misconduct into Dziekanski's death. However, when it comes to the phase of the inquiry that looks into the use of Tasers, it will not be able to force witnesses to testify. It will also not be able assess blame for individual misconduct in that phase.
The inquiry would be able to give its recommendations about Taser use to the federal government, which has jurisdiction over the RCMP.
