Deployment of Police Intervention

Date: March 18, 2021
Classification: Unclassified
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: RCMP

Proposed Response:

Background:

Police Intervention

RCMP members are held to a higher standard of conduct. RCMP members are subject to a Code of Conduct both on and off-duty, in Canada and abroad. The RCMP is subject to several internal and external review processes that ensure its police officers are accountable for all police intervention occurrences. Incidents involving police intervention are complex, dynamic and constantly evolving, oftentimes in a highly-charged atmosphere. Police officers must make split-second decisions when it comes to responding with intervention options, if necessary.

The RCMP responds to an average of 2.8 million calls for service each year. Applications of intervention account for one in every 1,064 RCMP calls for service, or 0.1 per cent. That means that 99.9 per cent of RCMP occurrences are resolved naturally or with communication/de-escalation. Overall, there was a 29 per cent decline in the rate of intervention being applied from 2010 to 2019, with 2019 (0.073 per cent) marking the lowest rate of intervention over a ten-year period. 

Carotid Control / Vascular Neck Restraint

The carotid control technique is not a chokehold. The technique, when applied properly and per training, does not restrict breathing, and does not put any pressure on the windpipe. It applies pressure to both sides of a person’s neck, without restricting the airway. It may cause, but not always, a very brief period of unconsciousness that allows the police officer to safely place the individual in handcuffs. Every member must re-certify in the Carotid Control Technique every three years. RCMP officers will only use the carotid control technique, in a defensive manner, when protecting against a threat of grievous bodily harm or death, or a situation similar to where lethal force could be used, but that intervention is deemed inappropriate at that time based on the totality of the situation. Use of force reporting shows that carotid control is used an average of 36 times per year.

Carotid Control Review

On June 9, 2020, Commissioner Lucki confirmed that the RCMP would examine the use of this technique and a review is ongoing. The RCMP is participating in a study with a group of experienced police use of force researchers, including both criminologists and physicians, to provide a valid estimate of the incidence of injuries related to the carotid control/vascular neck restraint (VNR) technique. The RCMP’s involvement in this study will provide objective medical evidence of the risks and benefits of this intervention. This is critical to making evidence-based policy decisions on whether to continue teaching the technique, and if so, under what circumstances it should be employed. Information on the researchers and the results of the study will be shared when it is complete, which is anticipated to be late in 2021. Based on the existing research, policy, and training, as well as the robust oversight and accountability measures in place for the carotid control/VNR technique, the RCMP will wait until the international medical safety study (as referenced above) is completed, prior to making a decision on whether to continue teaching the carotid control/VNR technique, and if so, under what circumstances it should be employed.

Knee on Neck Technique

The knee to the neck technique is not carotid control and should not be confused with carotid control. Carotid control does not include the use of the legs for restraint. The RCMP does not teach or endorse any technique where RCMP officers place a knee on the head or neck. This applies to the teaching of cadets at the RCMP Academy, Depot Division, as well as in-service training and police intervention re-certification. Since this technique is not taught or endorsed by the RCMP, RCMP officers should not be using it.

Police Service Dogs

The article highlighted that more than 50 per cent of police dog bites required treatment in hospital – “an injury rate surpassed only by being shot”. However, it is important to note that RCMP policy states that if a police service dog injures anyone, regardless of severity, RCMP officers should administer first aid and transport the person to a medical professional, for assessment and treatment. Given this strict requirement for proactive treatment, the number of injuries reported for this type of police intervention may be appear disproportionately higher than injuries sustained by the application of other intervention options, which do not require proactive transport to a medical professional.

Subject Behaviour / Officer Response (SB/OR) Police Intervention Reporting

To enhance accountability and transparency, in 2010, the RCMP strengthened its police intervention reporting requirements to include all intervention options. This information is captured in an SB/OR report. SB/OR reporting application is robust and was created to provide RCMP officers with a tool to assist them in properly articulating the circumstances in which police intervention was used. An SB/OR report captures occurrence information, environment, situational factors, what substances and weapons were present, a description of the subject’s behaviour and the officer’s corresponding response, injuries, if any, to the subject and the officer, and a short description of how the event unfolded.

A SB/OR report is mandatory for all members who apply/display:

All SB/OR reports are reviewed at the supervisory level and further review and oversight is provided at the divisional levels where the incident occurred. Nationally, SB/OR reports are periodically reviewed or audited for accuracy and adherence to policy. An SB/OR report provides additional context around incidents where police intervention is used and provides statistical data on the frequency of police intervention encounters compared to overall calls for service. SB/OR data allows for evidence-based decision making for the development of policy, training and equipment.

Collection of Race-Based Data in SB/OR Reports

In any interaction with the public, RCMP members are guided by the RCMP’s Bias-Free Policing Policy, which is based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination, as well as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, the RCMP Act and the RCMP’s values. Bias-free policing means equitable treatment of all persons by all RCMP employees in the performance of their duties, in accordance with the law and without abusing their authority. In accordance with the RCMP's Bias-free Policing policy, the RCMP's police intervention reporting (known as Subject Behaviour / Officer Response reporting) does not currently capture the racialized or ethnic identity of the subject the officers interact with.

During RCMP Commissioner Lucki’s June 23, 2020, testimony before the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, she committed to working with the Federal Privacy Commissioner to review this reporting practice with the goal of developing an approach to collecting and reporting race-based data for police interactions and interventions. This work is underway, however the RCMP has no updates to share at this time.

Incident Management Intervention Model (IMIM)

The IMIM is the framework used by RCMP officers to assess and manage risk in all encounters with the public. Whether it's verbal de-escalation, or the use of an intervention option. The IMIM training helps officers continually assess risk, based on the totality of the situation and considering subject behaviour(s), situational factors, tactical considerations and the officer’s perceptions. The circular representation of the graphic is designed to reflect the rapidly evolving and dynamic nature of police work. Unlike a continuum or linear pathway, the IMIM does not lead the officer through a stepped progression of intervention options. The officer instead selects an appropriate option to control the situation, based on their individual risk assessment. The IMIM is introduced in the second week at the RCMP Academy, Depot Division, and then integrated into all other relevant aspects of training for the remaining 24 weeks. After leaving Depot, annual IMIM re-certification training is mandatory for all regular members.

Crisis Intervention and De-escalation

Police officers are often the first responders on scene when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. Police officers are not medical professionals and cannot diagnose individuals. However, it is important for the police to have an understanding of mental health illnesses, including signs and symptoms of distress, in order to conduct effective risk assessments and de-escalate a mental health crisis, wherever it is tactically feasible.

Through crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques, many mental health crisis situations can be managed with decreased risk to the public and police officers. The RCMP has strengthened crisis intervention and de-escalation training for all its officers. Since 2016 an online training course on Crisis Intervention and De-escalation has been mandatory for all RCMP officers. The course takes approximately three-hours and is available through the RCMP’s E-learning portal. This mandatory training helps police officers determine when and how to use crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques and complements what cadets learn at Depot as well as other training offered in RCMP divisions and detachments.

The purpose of the course is to ensure that RCMP officers will be able to use crisis intervention and de-escalation (CID) techniques, when tactically feasible, to effectively manage these situations, including incidents involving a mental health crisis. The course includes a module on some major mental health illnesses and their observable behaviours, which can assist police officers in tailoring their approach to the person in crisis. Crisis intervention and de-escalation training is now being incorporated into annual Incident Management Intervention Model (IMIM) training. Further, scenarios involving crisis intervention and de-escalation training are in place as a part of regular operational skills maintenance training.

Accountability and External Review Process

The RCMP is subject to several internal and external review processes that ensure its police officers are accountable for all police intervention occurrences and member-involved shooting incidents. Internal processes may take the form of an investigation by professional standards, a review by a police intervention subject matter expert, or an Independent Officer Review.

External Reviews of Major Police Incidents occur where there is a serious injury or death of an individual involving an RCMP member, or where it appears that an RCMP member may have contravened a provision of the Criminal Code or other statute and the matter is of a serious or sensitive nature. The RCMP has extensive operational policies designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and openness - mandating that an independent civilian agency or external law enforcement body conduct the investigation whenever possible.

Complaints Process: Part VII of the RCMP Act stipulates that any individual may make a public complaint concerning the conduct of any RCMP Employee whom at the time, was in the performance of their duties. Further, the Chairperson for the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) may initiate a public complaint, if they are satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to investigate the conduct.

The general public can make a complaint about the conduct relating to the performance of any duty or function of any employee employed under the Part I of the RCMP Act. The Chair of the CRCC can also initiate a complaint if it is in the public interest. Public complaints can be made directly to the RCMP or to the CRCC.

Contacts:

Prepared by: Sandrine Ferron-Ouellet, Policy Analyst, Strategic Policy, Contract and Indigenous Policing, RCMP; (343)-573-7407
Approved by: Brian Brennan, Deputy Commissioner, Contract and Indigenous Policing, RCMP; 613-843-4632

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