Ejaz Choudry, a 62-year-old Mississauga resident in the midst of a mental health crisis, was shot dead by Peel Regional Police’s Tactical and Rescue Unit in June 2020. Choudry’s death renewed public concern about police use of force and draws attention to the use of police tactical units to respond to incidents involving people in mental distress.
Interactions with tactical units can be among the most violent citizen-police encounters. These units rely on the use of military-like weapons, flashbangs, battering rams and a range of other specialized equipment. But the militarization of these police units is not a new phenomenon or trend. Canadian research has highlighted concerns about the increasing use of tactical units at incidents that are regarded as more common or routine.
