(file photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Rate of use of force by police has remained consistent over five years: MHPS

Feb 25, 2022 | 6:20 PM

MEDICINE HAT,AB– Use of force by members of the Medicine Hat Police Service was front and centre at this month’s Medicine Hat Police Commission meeting.

A collection of data obtained from 2017 to 2021 shows use of force has remained consistent over the past five years, the MHPS said.

Every year, on average, the MHPS said members respond to approximately 30,000 calls for service, not including traffic stops or general interactions with the public.

“Of that 30,000, approximately 108 of those incidents we use force, so that goes around .35 percent of calls we attend,” stated Constable Kyle Jalbert.

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Jalbert said force is typically used to prevent a violent offense from occurring in order to protect people in the community. It is also used, at times, to take an individual into custody.

Data shows the use of tasers and Oleoresin capsicum spray has gone down over the past five years. Jalbert said new technology such as the Ace ARWEN, which was deployed during the high-risk incident at Northlands Crescent last month, likely had an impact in the fluctuation of weapon use. Jalbert said the police force also focuses on de-escalation, and tactical communication strategies when responding to calls.

Jalbert said these strategies are likely why there have been no documented cases of lethal force over the past five years.

“I think a lot of that has to do with obviously with the intermediate weapons that we do have. I’ve been part of several files where we have utilized intermediate weapons, where that person under the criminal code, lethal force would have been justified but we opted for less lethal options to save a life,” he said.

Under the Criminal Code, Jalbert said police are allowed to use lethal force if an individual is causing grievous bodily harm or death to an individual or officer.

While there hasn’t been any record of lethal force as of late, a notable trend, police said is in the number of minor injuries the suspect sustains due to force.

Statistics show in 2021, minor injuries that do not require medical treatment such as bruises and abrasions occurred in 19 use of force incidents. That number is up slightly from 2020 which had 15 incidents.

Jalbert said police began tracking minor injuries a number of years ago.

“ People just need to be aware that it is common, that it might happen that you could be injured when encountering police with use of force,” he said

Last year, no use of force incidents required the suspect to receive medical attention, according to the MHPS.