
What are the policies guiding Taser use in Alberta? The answers aren't easy to find
CBC
This is the second of two-part CBC News report on Taser use by Edmonton police. To read the previous story, click here.
Tasers have become widely used by police agencies across the country since their introduction to Canadian law enforcement in the late 1990s. Occasionally, people have died after being Tasered.
But in Alberta, understanding the policies around Taser use has been far from straightforward.
The Alberta government sets requirements and restrictions for policing in the province through legislation and standards. Police agencies like the Edmonton Police Service create their own policies and procedures within those parameters, under the civilian oversight of the Edmonton police commission.
Some of these documents are publicly available, such as the Police Act and the Provincial Policing Standards.
However, among information the province does not release are guidelines for Taser use.
A CBC News request for this document from the Alberta governmen was denied by the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Services.
A spokesperson said in a statement that the guidelines













