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Vol. 10, No. 21, Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Electrical Phenomenon Haeli Carter’s photo of the Aurora Borealis is absolutely breathtaking. The Tofield area resident started shooting images around 10:30 p.m. March 17 until 4:30 a.m. March 18 about six miles north of Tofield. Carter, who owns and operates Natural Impressions Graphics & Photography, makes one truly appreciate the spectacular and remarkable wonders nature has to offer.
Lamont County Peace Officer to request taser Michelle Pinon Editor
To Steve Crosby’s knowledge, no other community peace officer has ever requested authorization from Alberta’s Solicitor General to be able to carry a Conductive Energy Weapon (CEW). Crosby is set to be the first to make such a request, and Lamont County’s Peace Officer received council’s full support during its regular March 10th meeting. Crosby, who came before council in person with his request, stated that a CEW, or more commonly referred to as taser, is a much better deterrent than a CEW or OC (Oleoresin Capsicum
Pepper Spray) or a baton. “It is my experience with the taser that it is a deterrent much more than OC spray or the baton. I carried a taser for seven years as a member of the Edmonton Police Service, and found that it was much more of a deterrent on the street then the baton or OC Spray.” Crosby added that, “I found violators didn’t even notice the OC spray or baton, but when they saw the taser on your hip or on the thigh holster, they were much quicker to comply.” He also noted that, all the studies he’s read have shown there’s less injury to both the officer and the violator, with the taser, as opposed to the baton.
“It has also been shown that the OC spray does not work on everyone. The baton can cause massive damage to someone when trying to strike the arms if someone moves and you hit them in the head. So I have found in the seven years I carried the taser, that it was much more of a deterrent than the other weapons. Definitely, a great defensive deterrent.” Crosby went on to comment about public perception when a police officer is using a baton. “It looks very violent and people see it as very violent, where as the taser only lasts five seconds. The person doesn’t look injured, and they aren’t bleeding, no broken bones.”
Recently, there have been an increase of violent attacks against not only law enforcement, but against individuals in a position of authority such as the military, pointed out Crosby. “As a peace officer I am constantly having office-violator contact on a daily basis. Through my nearly 30 years of law enforcement, I know that some of the most difficult situations to deal with safely is a traffic stop. Most of the violators that a Peace Officer deals with at a traffic stop are already in an emotional state just by being pulled over by law enforcement. “Although I deal with every violator in a professional and respectful manner, there are times
when a violator can become abusive and aggressive. This can also be said for the time when peace officers have to talk with subjects of complaints such as: noise complaints, unsightly properties, dog complaints, liquor complaints. I have found that even people who call for assistance can become aggressors. People, in general, can be very unpredictable.” Crosby said he would definitely feel safer with a taser at his disposal. “I would like to see everyone have the taser, but right now I am trying to get it for me. If it works for me, then it may work
for everyone.” Council agreed with Crosby’s sentiments and analysis, and voted unanimously in favour of authorizing Crosby to write and send a letter of request to the solicitor general’s department. Crosby told council the cost of a taser is between $1,000 and $1,200 on average to purchase.