A Hamilton Police Service (HPS) use of force report shows officers pointed their firearms and drew their handguns more often in 2020 than in 2019. And so did the people they apprehended.
In 2020, police pointed their firearms 185 times compared to 128 the year prior. They drew their handguns 42 times in 2020 compared to 29 the year prior.
The report shows, of the 185 times police pointed their guns, "81 were as a result of a high-risk search warrant or arrests conducted by the Emergency Response Unit."
"Of note, there was also a 170 per cent increase in the number of firearms recovered by HPS officers, which may account for the higher number," the report says.
It also states the 185 times police pointed their guns doesn't necessarily mean 185 separate situations (so if five officers pointed their guns at the same time, they'd file five use of force reports).
The report says officers only draw their handguns if they believe it's necessary to avoid loss of life or serious bodily harm.
Police fired their guns 27 times last year and the report says 25 of those instances were to euthanize injured animals. The other two times, officers fired at people.
170 per cent rise in suspects carrying gun or replica gun
The report says suspects carried or had access to a weapon 216 times. Of those, 92 involved edged weapons like knives and 81 included guns or replica guns, which is a 170 per cent increase compared to 2019.
"This trend is concerning and most likely a contributing factor to the increase in the number of times police pointed or drew a firearm," the report says.
Other weapons included bats, crowbars, poles, axes, hammers and shovels.
What kind of force police used
Last year saw a total of 431 use of force reports compared to the 10-year-average of 346.
According to the 2020 report, officers used pepper spray once, punched or kicked people 17 times, applied joint locks 14 times, struck people with a baton three times and used a Taser 139 times.
Most reports came after weapons calls, tactical calls and other calls like criminal investigations.
In 2020, officers were injured 32 times and suspects were injured 108 times.
"When an individual is apprehended under the Mental Health Act this would also be counted as medical attention," the report says.
Which officers used force
Most use of force came from the general branch of officers and those with no more than 10 years of experience.
The report states officers with 10 or fewer years on the job account for 37 per cent of the general branch.
The report also includes the race of suspects involving use of force and shows 66 per cent were white.
When use of force took place in 2020
August had the most use of force reports at 62.
Friday was the most common day with 96 reports.
Most use of force reports were filed between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m.
Police are set to have a board meeting on Thursday to discuss the report.
Report lacking detail, HCCI says
Kojo Damptey, interim executive director of Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), said the report doesn't have enough detail.
"We don't know where the events occurred, we don't know why, we don't know what was the situation," he said.
"There needs to be some further analysis of what's going on ... you can't just tell us the numbers."
CBC News reached out to police and the police union for comment, but they hadn't responded by the time of publication.
Hamilton police pointed firearms 45% more often in 2020 than in 2019 - CBC.ca
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