Use of force reports filed by members of Sault Ste. Marie Police Service has more than doubled since last year.
According to the most recent year-to-date statistics provided to the Police Services Board, 118 reports were filed as a result of 72 incidents during the first six months of 2021. A total of 54 use of force reports were filed during the same six-month period last year.
Less lethal use-of-force options were also reported in the first six months of this year:
- Firearm pointed: 70
- Firearm discharged: 2
- Conducted energy weapon displayed: 41
- Conducted energy weapon deployed: 15
- Impact weapon (baton, pepper spray, etc.): 6
- Empty hands techniques: 20
- Canine bite: 1
“When we go to these calls for service, we are being faced with a noticeable, significant [increase] in violence, whether it’s knives, whether it’s firearms - and obviously, our officers are trained twice a year on use-of-force options, and they utilize proper judgement in terms of the use of force they utilize as to the threat they’re presented with,” said Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Chief Stevenson, speaking with SooToday Friday. “So yes, that goes part and parcel with those occurrences.”