For a second consecutive year, the Sarnia Police Service has submitted fewer use of force reports.
A total of 23 reports were submitted in 2016, two fewer reports compared to 2015 and eight fewer than in 2014.
Chief Phil Nelson says uniform patrol officers submitted 52% of the reports in 2016, while members of the Emergency Response Team submitted 30%.
"Anytime you go to a call, first of all, you always want to disengage or be able to resolve an issue," says Nelson. "But you know, as things progress through the call, you have to remember that if you're using any form of use of force, it's reportable and must be reported."
Nelson says the use of force could include soft hand techniques, punching, and using a baton, firearm or taser.
Last year, officers used a Taser in 13 occurrences, up from seven in 2015.
"Under new legislation we're allowed to train more officers on the use of the taser," says Nelson. "We're finding that just the presence of a taser onsite has a big effect on people and what happens."
He says officers drew, pointed or discharged firearms to kill an animal or protect themselves in 15 situations.
"I don't see anything in the report that alarms me" says Nelson. "We deal with over 24,000 calls a year. We made just under 2,000 arrests last year and there was also over 3,000 traffic stops. That doesn't even begin to count the amount of people we deal with on a daily basis. So it's not even 1% of any calls were dealing with for having use of force."
In 2016, officers had two encounters involving a person armed with a firearm, one with a baseball bat, one with a bicycle seat post and five with an edged weapon.
