Overview

• In a June report prompted by two union complaints, the provincial board urged an urgent re‑evaluation of what weapons constables should be allowed to carry and cited a tribunal ruling that arming specialized officers can rebalance confrontations, without naming specific weapons.
• The union says constables should have access to stun guns and firearms, while officers currently carry batons and handcuffs, with pepper spray added in 2024.
• STM says it will not add weapons and is emphasizing de‑escalation and additional training, arguing current practices prioritize safety and oversight.
• The board also pressed for faster backup response times and for provincial police to grant constables access to its criminal database, a measure expected by April that still lacks a timeline.
• The union reports 85 constables injured since January compared with 123 in all of last year, and STM data show 58,349 interventions in 2024 with 487 involving use of force.