Nunavik police say adding biometric health sensors in holding cells could save lives
CBC
The Nunavik Police Service says it wants to install sensors in holding cells to monitor the health of people in custody.
Five people have died of alcohol poisoning in holding cells in Nunavik police stations since 2017. In May 2023, the death of a woman in Inukjuak highlighted the difficulties the police force faces in monitoring people's health.
"It's very difficult to tell the difference between someone who's asleep versus someone who might be unconscious following an alcohol overdose," said Jean-François Morin, deputy chief of Nunavik Police Services.
The biometric health sensor in question offers continuous heart rate and breathing rate monitoring. This system would send an alert to police officers if there were variations in the heart or breathing rate of the person in custody, allowing them to notice changes and react more quickly.
"We're looking at a really recent technology," Morin said. "If there's a fluctuation, an alert is given immediately."
Created by a South Korean company, the device was primarily designed for long-term care homes.
However, this sensor has been used by police in Canada before. Regina's RCMP implemented the technology in their detention facilities last year. Since then, a dozen cells have been equipped, according to Regina RCMP.
"In four different cases in just eight months, rapid intervention by officers saved the lives of inmates who might otherwise have died," said Staff Sgt. Pierre Beauchesne, who piloted the project for the Regina RCMP.
The police station in Sarnia, Ont. has also been using the technology since June 2024.
Beauchesne added that this technology can only monitor one person at once.
The success the Regina RCMP has had from using the technology makes Jean-François Morin, Nunavik Police Service's deputy chief, hopeful it could help Nunavik too.
"Knowing that this technology could save lives, we plan to install it in every cell of our police stations," said Morin.
But he said the sensors still won't make up for the lack of resources in Nunavik.
In smaller communities especially, there often isn't anywhere other than a holding cell where intoxicated people can go, which means vulnerable people who are at risk of alcohol poisoning or other health effects may end up in custody.
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