Newsgroups: tor.general
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Toronto Police
Message-ID: <1989Jan23.184709.8098@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <157@aimed.UUCP> <4674@hcr.UUCP> <1989Jan20.201648.20385@lsuc.uucp>
Date: Mon, 23 Jan 89 18:47:09 GMT

In article <1989Jan20.201648.20385@lsuc.uucp> sean@lsuc.UUCP (Sean Doran the Younger) writes:
>... They are certainly not allowed to shoot at someone
>brandishing a knife (Police Constables are well trained in the use
>of truncheons and are all taught how to disarm an opponent who is
>using a knife or other weapon)...

Let us not forget that knives are lethal weapons, and that disarming
someone with a knife is much easier said than done.  I'm not familiar
with the level of training that Toronto police get, but my understanding
is that disarming anyone carrying anything is generally considered to
be an expert-level procedure, and I would be very surprised if the normal
Toronto policeman has the kind of training needed to do it without grave
risk.  Especially since he'd need constant practice to maintain that
kind of skill.
-- 
Allegedly heard aboard Mir: "A |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
toast to comrade Van Allen!!"  | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu