Chief pleased officers rarely use force

Saskatoon police officers reporting using force 271 times last year in making more than 13,700 arrests and responding to more than 86,000 calls.

Officers reported using force less than two per cent of the time during arrests, according to the police force’s annual use-of-force report. Police Chief Troy Cooper said he’s pleased, and that it speaks to officers’ professionalism and confidence in their ability to perform duties based on the training they receive and the equipment available.

“We understand that the community expects us to use the least amount of force required to do our job,” he said.

“That’s something we’re very cognizant of, is our obligation to the community.”

Cooper said police are monitoring the number of officers injured and he takes that very personally and seriously. Last year, 26 officers were injured; six required medical attention and one required hospitalization.

“We don’t want to use force, not only because the community expects us to use the least amount of force, but it’s dangerous to our own staff as well,” he said.

The 2019 numbers show an increase of 5.85 per cent in the number of incidents compared to 2018, when officers reported 256 incidents. In 2017, they reported using force 264 times.

The annual use-of-force report was written by Insp. Cam Dreaver, who presented his findings to the city’s board of police commissioners on Thursday.

While officers are expected to self-report, Dreaver said street supervisors also monitor calls, and other officers present when force is used. He said the investigation into each use of force also relies on video surveillance in patrol cars and in police detention areas.

He emphasized that some of the uses of force reported were considered “preventive” — such as the use of a spit sock to prevent a suspect from spitting on officers, or restraint straps or chairs — rather than a “traditional” use of force, such as a physical or baton strike.

Use of those three forms of restraint decreased slightly over 2018, according to the report.

The use of conducted-energy weapons — also known as Tasers — remained fairly consistent between 2018 and 2019 — 32 uses were reported last year, versus 33 the year before.