News Release
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Response to recent misrepresentation of AbbyPD intervention stats in the media
Statistics for the past 5 years show that, on average, Abbotsford Police Officers attend over 30,000 calls for service yearly and successfully resolve over 99% of those calls without the use of any police intervention tactics. Police intervene only with necessary force options that are required to de-escalate the behaviour of a subject. Use of force options are made through a constant assessment and consideration of citizen, officer and subject safety.
So far in 2020, AbbyPD has responded to ~24,000 calls (including traffic stops). During these calls police intervention tactics were implemented in less than 1% (approx. 147 calls) of interactions. Officers using police intervention tactics are, in most cases, responding to calls for service in which a weapon, such as firearm, is involved as reported by the complainant or witness.
In 2020 (YTD), Officer use of firearms (display only or pointed) has marginally increased by 0.1%. There is no way to accurately “project” future use of police intervention tactics; there is no pattern that can correctly predict future use of police intervention tactics or the use of firearms. To date, in 2020, firearm use accounts for only 0.27% (approx. 50 calls) of ALL attended calls; no firearms have been discharged this year.
Abbotsford Police Officers’ use of the Conducted Energy Weapon (taser) did NOT go up. IN fact, year to date, Abbotsford Police officers have discharged a Conducted Energy Weapon on only one occasion. Taser use has decreased by 0.01% and has only been used in 0.03% of all attended calls year to date.
Extended range impact weapon [ERIW] (beanbag shotgun or ARWEN) is a police intervention tactic that has seen a very slight increase so far this year, by 0.08%. We have discharged ERIW 18 times to date this year.
Each year, Abbotsford Police Officers undergo training and evaluation related to police intervention tactics. Training is statistically driven and constantly evolving based on changes in law, calls for service, and improved techniques or tactics as governed by professional bodies that advise or oversee law enforcement training.
The Abbotsford Police Department is committed to openness and transparency in our operations, activities and communications with the public. We have made the police intervention statistics, referenced above, available to the public on our website. For more info, please visit: https://www.abbypd.ca/blog/proactive-disclosure
Sgt Judy Bird
Phone (604) 864-4899
Abbotsford Police Media Relations Officer
[email protected]