Ottawa police spending $1 million on new Tasers
The Ottawa Police Service is spending $1 million on new Tasers.
A report for the Ottawa Police Services Board meeting Monday evening seeks approval to purchase 200 new Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs), and operational and training cartridges.
Ottawa police approved a three-year plan in 2018 to deploy CEWs to all sworn members who operate in a frontline capacity. At the end of 2020, 960 sworn members were equipped and trained with the weapons.
Staff say the operational lifespan of a CEW is five years.
"The purchase of 200 CEWs is required in 2021 to maintain the lifecycle management plan."
If approved, police will purchase 200 CEWs from Axon Public Safety Canada.
CALLS FOR SERVICE INCREASE IN THE SPRING
The Ottawa Police Service saw a 17 per cent increase in requests for service in the second quarter, as COVID-19 restrictions eased and demand for service returned to historic levels.
A report for the board says there were approximately 87,000 requests for service in the April to June period, with 82,000 calls through dispatch and 5,000 requests for service received through online reporting.
"As the Province achieved milestones in the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario, restrictive measures to curb community transmission have been lifted," says the report for Monday's meeting.
"Outdoor activities have resumed, indoor services have started to increase, and larger gatherings are being permitted. With fewer restrictions, demand for service has seen a natural return to historical levels."
Police say calls requiring a mobile response increased by 20 per cent through the second quarter, driven by an increased focus on traffic enforcement, responding to collisions and thefts.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Town of Fort Nelson, B.C., ordered to evacuate due to wildfire
The entire town of Fort Nelson, B.C., as well as the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has been ordered to evacuate due to an out-of-control wildfire.
Bouchard lifts Edmonton Oilers to 4-3 overtime win over Canucks in Game 2
Evan Bouchard scored 5:38 into overtime and the Edmonton Oilers bounced back for a 4-3 win over the Vancouver Canucks in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on Friday.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.