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Bylaw officers feel safer with pepper spray, batons: Report

No officer has had to use them in the year since they were introduced
Citizen Staff
pgc-bylaw-weapons
Some of the weapons located by city bylaw officers in the course of their work are photographed at the Downtown Safety Hub in August. CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE

One year after the city issued pepper spray and batons to them, bylaw enforcement officers say they feel safer.

"Since the new tools have been issued, employees throughout the department, which include individuals working predominantly downtown, individuals working throughout all areas of the city, animal control officers and parking control officers have been asked about the impact of this change," states the report, written by Eric Depenau, director of administrative services, that goes to city council Wednesday, Sept. 25.

Before the tools were issued, bylaw officers had only protective vests.

"As a result of what management considers to be proper training and equipment, these employees have relayed that they feel more confident and better prepared to handle their daily duties in a safe manner," Depeneau wrote. "Some employees have gone so far as to say that they would no longer feel comfortable doing the job without these tools and wished they had received them sooner."

No officer has yet had to use the defensive tools on the job.

"There has not been an instance since the tools were introduced that the defensive tools have been deployed," Depeneau wrote. "With that said, the importance of possessing these tools and providing protective vests as well as appropriate training to all employees in Bylaw Services is viewed as an important step in protecting staff and giving them the tools necessary to deal with the potential breadth of situations they may encounter at work."

The report calls for a formalized requirement that all current and future bylaw officers, which also includes animal control and parking control officers, be equipped with the defensive tools and handcuffs. The move will also include required standardized training on their use.

"Bylaw Enforcement is arguably one of the more forward facing and contentious departments as daily, the officers are asking people to comply with a set of standards imposed by local government," Depeneau wrote. "When compliance isn’t gained through other means, such as education, fines are imposed, and this often results in anger from residents. Even in instances where investigations are just starting people can be immediately escalated."

Council will be asked to vote to approve the next steps on Wednesday.