A policy of take-the-easy-road is a normal human tendency directly related to many human activities in life, its only smart many would say to look for the easiest, least complicated solution to a problem. This is a sound policy in most cases, yet, like all human inventions this policy has great potential for damage and abuse if not properly assessed and monitored. The greatest implementers of this human tendency in policy form are probably our own elected governments, whose job it is to implement the policies and laws of the land in a manner which is the same for all. Nice thought. If it wasn’t for the fact that these thoughts will be implemented by different humans then the ones having these thoughts, we might actually see this happen.

Vancouver is a city of light, one of the best, most enlightened cities and some of the most talented and enlightened individuals in the world live in this world class city. Boasting scenery and public venues to entice and enlightened the human soul, surrounding countryside that is renowned around the world for its beauty and abundance, and a transit system that is both safe, and efficient.

To increase safety and decrease concerns about violence on Vancouver’s transit buses in 2004 The Metro Vancouver transit police force was formed to provide security and alleviate public safety concerns. Recently, The Metro Vancouver transit police implemented a policy change regarding use of Tasers on “non-compliant” riders, after its policy came under attack when they revealed that since the implementation of the “non-compliance” policy in 2004 10 individuals have been zapped trying to avoid paying for their ride.

The release of this information sparked cries for reviews of all cases involving the use of Tasers by internal reviewers and the BC Police Complaints Commission, which is formed from the current members of the RCMP to review all complaints against the RCMP, nice set up.

The BC government launched their inquiry into the Taser controversy to deal with public concern over the use and possible abuse of Tasers after the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski last October at the Vancouver International Airport when the gentlemen was hit with a Taser by members of Canada’s highly trained RCMP, who felt their life was threatened?
The transit police board’s change to their Taser policy includes the removal of the term “non-compliance” in trade for “actively resistant”, while keeping the old terms used to define the boundaries for use of the Taser on riders as “suicidal” and “violent”.

The changes seem to be more in tune with protecting themselves from any possible fall out due to the policy, and thus the unspecific language, which is open to definition. The main change which hasn’t come forward should be an increase in the training of officers given the power to use this potentially dangerous weapon on individuals, so they can better understand when the use of a Taser is warranted and when it is over kill.