Conducted Energy Weapons

2. What you will learn:
1. How the Conducted Energy Weapon (C.E.W.)
operates
2. The current deployment of the C.E.W. in
Brantford
3. The planned future deployment of the C.E.W. in
Brantford

3. General Information
The term “Taser” is actually a brand name used by
Taser International.
The Taser brand is used by the majority of Police
Services across North America.
The Taser is presently the only authorized C.E.W.
in Ontario.

4. When can the police use the
C.E.W.?
In situations where it is necessary to gain control
of an individual who is behaving in an assaultive
manner.
To protect the public and officers from violent
individuals, as well as protecting violent individuals
from injuring themselves.

5. What other use of force options do
Brantford Police officers have?
• Communication (De-escalation Techniques)
• Empty hand control and strikes
• O.C. Spray (Pepper Spray)
• Expandable Baton
• Conducted Energy Weapon (C.E.W.)*
• Firearms
*ERT members and supervisors only

6. How Does a Conducted Energy
Weapon Work?
The Conducted Energy Weapon uses energy-charged
propelled wires (or direct contact) to interrupt the sensory
and motor functions of the nervous system.

7. How Does a Conducted Energy
Weapon Work?
• The human sensory and motor nervous systems
communicate with simple electrical impulses.
• The C.E.W. mimics these electrical impulses causing
stimulation of the nerves that control movement.
• This stimulation temporarily immobilizes a subject by
causing the subject's muscles to contract.
• The C.E.W. does NOT affect the central nervous system.

8. Nervous System in the human body
Central Nervous System
Command center (brain and spinal cord)
processes information and makes
decisions
Sensory Nervous System
Nerves that carry information from the
body to the brain (touch, temperature,
etc.)
Motor Nervous System
Nerves that carry commands from the
brain to the muscles to control
movement
Note: The CEW affects BOTH the
sensory and motor nerves and does not
affect the Central Nervous system

9. Is a Conducted Energy Weapon
lethal?
• The C.E.W. is not designed to cause death. It is
classified as a “Less lethal” use of force option.
• All use of force involves risks to the subject and
the Police Officer.
• Pre-existing medical conditions may elevate this
risk in certain subjects.
• In some cases the C.E.W. has been found to have a
“proximal” (not a direct) connection to the death
of some subjects.

10. How powerful is the C.E.W.
(Volts and Amps)
• The CEW can produce 50,000 volts. However,
the actual peak voltage across the body is 1,300
volts
• The peak output current is about 3 amperes on
average

11. Consider this…Electricity and Voltage
Carpet static
electricity
discharge
30,000 Volts
The CEW – X26
Taser
50,000 Volts
The Van De Graaff
Generator
(Ontario Science
Centre)
1,000,000+Volts

12. Consider this……Electricity and
Amperage/Current
A Christmas
Tree Bulb
1.0 Amp
The CEW – X26
Taser
3.0 Amps
A standard 110 V
Wall Outlet
15.0 Amps

13. Currently, who in the Brantford
Police Service is permitted to carry
the CEW?
• Since 2006 the C.E.W. has been carried by
Brantford police officers that are tactical team
members or front line supervisors (Sergeants).
• This amounts to approximately 16% of our
community patrol officers having immediate
access to a C.E.W.

14. Currently, who in the Brantford
Police Service is permitted to carry
the CEW?
• In 2013 The Ministry of Community Safety and
Correctional Services approved the expanded
deployment of C.E.W.’s to all front line police
officers.
• This expanded deployment has not yet taken
place within the Brantford Police Service

15. Why Does the Chief of Police want
C.E.W.s to be issued to all front-line
officers?
• To ensure all approved use of force options are
available to all front-line officers, 100% of the
time.
• The C.E.W. is an appropriate use of force option
that can help promote and maintain public and
officer safety.

16. Why Does the Chief of Police want
CEWs to be issued to all front-line
officers?
Juries from numerous Coroners Inquests in Ontario
have recommended that the C.E.W. be deployed to all
front line police officers:
▫ Lamonday (2005)
▫ Vass (2006)
▫ Christopher-Reid (2007)
▫ Knight (2008)
▫ Douglas (2008)
▫ Black (2009)
▫ Trevor Colin Graham (2009)
▫ Foldi (2009)
▫ Jones (2012)

17. What training will the officers
receive?
• All officers will complete 16 hours of C.E.W.
training to qualify to carry the device.
• This is 4 hours more than the provincial
requirement.
• Annually thereafter, officers will complete 8
hours of C.E.W. refresher training.

18. Will this training include de-escalating a
situation to avoid using force?
• This training includes; de-escalation techniques,
practical deployments and judgement scenarios.
• Brantford Police officers also receive annual
training on mental health, tactical
communications, and dealing with persons in
crisis.
• Mental health training for Brantford Police officers
is developed in consultation with mental health
professionals.

19. Thank You
If you are interested in learning more about the
C.E.W., its use by members of the Brantford Police
Service, and the proposed expanded deployment, we
invite you to attend one of our information sessions.
1. July 24, 2014, 2:00 p.m.
2. July 24, 2014, 6:00 p.m.
The information sessions will be held in the
Community Room and the Brantford Police Service.