Edmonton Police Watch

(Copyright Calgary Herald 2006)

Almost one year after Calgary police began using Tasers to subdue civilians, five controversial Alberta cases are raising questions about whether officers are using stun guns recklessly as “cowboy policing.”

In Red Deer, a man died in hospital last month after being Tasered. In Edmonton, two police officers are facing assault charges after zapping suspects in separate incidents.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

Letter writer Sharon Maclise (“Police work is tough,” Sept. 9) argues that it’s appropriate for a police officer to use a Taser to teach a lesson in citizenship. So just what would that lesson be? That the police are above the law? That the rights of agents of the state supersede those of the public?

The political philosophy that puts the rights of the state before the rights of individuals is called fascism. As Benjamin Franklin observed, people who are willing to sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither.

Paul W. Oxby, Edmonton

(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

EDMONTON – The city police officer on trial for assault after he fired his Taser at two men sleeping in a hotel room claims the electric jolts provided a safe way to wake them up.

In a written statement to the police internal affairs unit, Const. Jeffrey Resler said he feared the men had recently smoked methamphetamines or popped prescription pills before passing out at the Cromdale Hotel on Nov. 27, 2003.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

Three men found in hotel room posed no threat, but Const. Resler used weapon on them anyway, officer testifies

EDMONTON – A city police sergeant said he felt sick after watching a fellow officer fire a Taser at two men as they lay sleeping in a room at the Cromdale Hotel in 2003.

Sgt. Blair Edl testified in provincial court Wednesday that police were searching for an armed robbery suspect described as an aboriginal male. The hotel’s night manager directed officers to a room where they found three Caucasian men sound asleep. Edl said they posed no threat.

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THE CANADIAN PRESS

Original

A judge has ruled that an Edmonton police constable abused his power when he used a Taser on a teen boy who was in custody for breaking into a house.

Last month, provincial court judge Pat Kvill stayed the charges against the youth, saying the police misconduct was so egregious that prosecution of the boy would have been offensive.

But she waited two weeks to release a written judgment, which includes a stinging condemnation of the actions taken by Const. Todd Hudek.

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(Copyright Edmonton Journal 2006)

Judge buys teen’s version of what happened at police station after his arrest

EDMONTON — A judge says a city police officer looking for an excuse to fire his Taser chose to punish a 15-year-old boy following a break-in nearly three years ago, then tried to cover up his blatant abuse of authority.

“We place great power in the hands of police officers with the tacit understanding that police will never abuse those powers,” said youth court Judge Patricia Kvill.

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