Use of Force in the Calgary Police Service
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Use of Force in the Calgary Police Service An Independent Review conducted by The Honorable Neil Wittmann, QC for Chief Constable Roger Chaffin Calgary Police Service April 2018 Independent Review of Police Use of Force Page ii LETTER TO CHIEF CONSTABLE ROGER CHAFFIN The Honourable Neil Wittmann, QC Independent Reviewer April 30, 2018 Roger Chaffin Chief Constable Calgary Police Service 5111 47 Street NE Calgary, AB. T3J 3R2 Dear Chief Chaffin: Independent Review of Use of Force in the Calgary Police Service I am pleased to provide you with my report following the review of use of force in the Calgary Police Service. The report includes my recommendations, informed by broad consultation, in response to the Terms of Reference dated May 16, 2017. I would like to thank you for the opportunity to lead this Review. I hope that the Calgary Police Service will find the recommendations useful in its efforts to improve its practices in respect of use of force. Sincerely, Neil Wittmann, QC Independent Review of Police Use of Force Page iii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................... x ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ xi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ xiii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................... xviii PART A: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 2 Review Mandate ......................................................................................................................... 2 Review Scope .............................................................................................................................. 4 Review Methodology .................................................................................................................. 5 USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS 2012-2017 ................................................................................... 13 Calls for Service ......................................................................................................................... 13 Officer-Involved Shootings ........................................................................................................ 14 PART B: THE CONTEXT ......................................................................................................... 18 The City of Calgary: Demographics and Crime Trends .............................................................. 18 Calgary Police Service ................................................................................................................ 23 Organisational Size and Demographics ................................................................................. 23 Legal Framework ................................................................................................................... 24 Corporate Structure and Governance ................................................................................... 28 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................... 39 PART C: OFFICER RECRUITMENT .......................................................................................... 52 Recruit Selection ....................................................................................................................... 52 Withdrawal of Recruits.............................................................................................................. 58 Deferral of Application .............................................................................................................. 58 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................... 62 PART D: OFFICER EDUCATION & TRAINING .......................................................................... 68 Training and Education ............................................................................................................. 68 Recruit Training and Education ................................................................................................. 69 Recruit Training Program ....................................................................................................... 69 Mandatory Requalification........................................................................................................ 78 In-Service Training and Education ............................................................................................. 81 Independent Review of Police Use of Force Page v District Training Officers ........................................................................................................ 82 Instructor Development ............................................................................................................ 84 Research Findings and Officer Concerns ................................................................................... 86 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................... 91 PART E: USE OF FORCE ....................................................................................................... 102 Legal Framework for Use of Force in Calgary Police Service .................................................. 102 Criminal Code ...................................................................................................................... 102 Provincial Policing Standards Manual ................................................................................. 104 Provincial Guidelines for the Use of Force .......................................................................... 104 Use of Force Models ............................................................................................................ 105 Calgary Police Service Use of Force Policy and Procedures .................................................... 108 Use of Force ......................................................................................................................... 108 De-escalation ....................................................................................................................... 109 Officer Tools and Equipment .................................................................................................. 112 Use of Force Tools and Options .............................................................................................. 113 Physical Control Techniques ................................................................................................ 113 Intermediate Force Options ................................................................................................ 118 Firearms ............................................................................................................................... 121 Canine Unit Police Service Dogs .......................................................................................... 122 Patrol Breaching Tools ......................................................................................................... 123 Body Worn Cameras ............................................................................................................ 123 Vehicle Flight Intervention Tactics .......................................................................................... 126 Responding to Auto Thefts ...................................................................................................... 128 District Operations Teams ................................................................................................... 129 High Enforcement Auto Theft Team .................................................................................... 129 Auto Theft Response Team ................................................................................................. 130 Incident Management by the Calgary Police Service .............................................................. 132 Real Time Operations Centre .............................................................................................. 136 Crisis Negotiators ................................................................................................................. 138 Tactical Unit ......................................................................................................................... 139 Air Support Unit ................................................................................................................... 139 Public Safety Unit ................................................................................................................. 140 Peer Support ........................................................................................................................ 142 Research Findings and Officer Concerns ................................................................................. 143 Independent Review of Police Use of Force Page vi Panel of Experts on Use of Force ........................................................................................