Police may begin taser tests next month

January 26th, 2009
A6By MICHAEL STAPLES, The Daily Gleaner

Testing on conducted-energy devices belonging to the Fredericton Police Force will likely begin next month.

Const. Ralph Currie said the finishing touches are being put on a contract with a local company to do the work, and that should be completed soon.

The force confirmed in December that it was going to have the voltage readings on its conducted-energy devices checked through independent testing.

The Fredericton Police Force has 20 of the devices, which can shoot out 50,000 volts.

The decision to proceed with the testing followed tests commissioned by CBC and French-language Radio-Canada which found that out of 41 guns tested, four discharged more current than the manufacturer Taser International said was possible.

More than 20 people in Canada have died after being shocked by a taser.

Taser International has said that the devices can't be blamed for deaths.