WHEREAS Conducted Energy Devices (or TASERs as they are commonly known) deliver a powerful five-second electrical jolt that overrides the human nervous system, causing a temporary loss of muscle control and are a less-lethal alternative to the use of firearms in apprehending an extremely disturbed suspect; and

WHEREAS police officers selected to use TASERs receive special training on the safe use of these less-lethal weapons and, as with firearms or any other instrument of force available to police, their use is subject to rules and safeguards; and

WHEREAS 71 law enforcement agencies in Canada equipped with CED, with this number is growing steadily; and

WHEREAS the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services has approved the use of the X-26 less lethal conducted energy weapon by Ontario police services; and

WHEREAS many police services have purchased the weapon or are in the process of doing so based on assurances by the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services to the OACP leadership that the Ontario Government would commit to using proceeds funding (POC grants approximately $800,000) to fund the purchase of the X26s on a cost-shared basis with police services; and

WHEREAS the Ontario Government appears to now be reluctant to fulfill its cost-sharing promise to Ontario’s police services and the communities they serve;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police calls upon the Government of Ontario to keep its stated intention and immediately establish a cost-sharing program for those police services that choose to purchase the X-26 less lethal conducted energy weapon.