Use of force training officers testify at McDougall inquest

The inquest into the fatal police shooting of Craig McDougall heard from two Winnipeg Police Service training officers on Tuesday.

Const. Daniel Atwell testified that recruits receive 19 days of use of force training while in the academy. He said officers are recertified every other year.

• VIDEO: Winnipeg police train media on use of force tactics

"That does include taser training, but not firearms, that's a separate course," said Atwell, who has been with the training unit since 2008.

Craig McDougall was shot and killed by Patrol Sgt. Curtis Beyak, outside of a Simcoe Street home, on August 2, 2008.

The inquest previously heard that McDougall was carrying a large knife and refused to comply with the three responding officers commands to drop the weapon.

Court heard Beyak ordered one of the officers to use the taser, but it failed to take McDougall down. The officers testified that McDougall continued to walk towards the officers and that is when Beyak fired four shots.

"We don't have to start at the lowest level of force and work our way up," said Atwell.

• Police officer feared for his life before he shot and killed Craig McDougall, inquest hears

Atwell explained the levels of force officers use, starting with officer presence, which means identifying oneself as police. Next comes verbal direction or commands, followed by soft empty hand control, which would be handcuffing and physically escorting someone and then hard empty hand control, which means using fists or martial arts techniques.

The last two steps are intermediate force, which included using a baton, taser, pepper spray and K9, and lastly lethal force, generally meaning the firearm. 

"If a person is armed with a weapon, you're not going to use empty hand control," said Atwell.

Atwell testified that all three officers involved in the shooting had up to date use of force training. He also told court that the training in 2008 is consistent with today.

The constable said a person's intent must also be factored in when an officer is determining which level of force to use.

"It could be their body language... how someone is holding a weapon for example," he said.

Taser use

The second training officer to testify was Const. Colin Anderson, an instructor on taser use.

He testified the tasers officers use today are different than in 2008. 

Anderson explained the new tasers, which the WPS started using in 2014, have two cartridges ready for use. The previous model was equipped with one, which would have to be changed after use, which he estimated could take between 20 and 60 seconds. 

Use of force training officers testify at McDougall inquest

8 years ago

Duration 1:13

The inquest into the fatal police shooting of Craig McDougall heard from two Winnipeg Police Service training officers on Tuesday.

Court previously heard that one of the taser probes missed McDougall. Anderson said the new tasers have two laser pointers to show where each probe will go. 

"The top laser should be straight on the abdomen and the bottom on the leg," he said, adding officers are trained to avoid the chest, head, neck and genitals. 

He said the ideal distance for using the taser is seven to 15 feet from a person or suspect. 

McDougall family lawyer, Corey Shefman, questioned Anderson on if officers receive specific training on how to deal with people who have mental illnesses. 

"A lot of our training is all encompassing, de-escalation techniques," he responded, adding the person's level or threat or intent primarily determines how to respond.

The lawyer for Taser International is set to testify on Wednesday. An expert on systemic racism is set to testify next week.