Hamilton police used taser 35 times in 2008

Hamilton police officers used more force to subdue perpetrators last year.

But they tasered less people, continuing a trend that began when the device was first introduced into the Hamilton Police Service in 2005.

“People are learning (how to use the taser),” said Sgt. Jon Allsbergas, enforcement supervisor.

Hamilton officers used a taser 35 times in 2008, compared to 52 times in 2007, 60 times in 2006 and 87 times in 2005 when the Hamilton Police Service starting using the device, according to use of force statistics complied by the service.

In 2009, officers had used the taser 18 times so far, he said.

Of the 35 times tasers were used, 10 took place in high-risk take downs, 14 incidents took place when an attending officer was responding to a call, four incidents were because of alcohol, and three incidents involved prisoners in custody. Most of the incidents involved officers on patrol.

Tasers fire two barbs attached to a wire that deliver a 50,000-volt shock on contact for up to five seconds. The weapon is meant to immobilize aggressors by shocking their muscles. Since 2001 when police began using the device, 16 people have died in taser-related incidents.