Posts by Amanda Wong
The Control Crisis: Are Gadgets Replacing Real-World Use of Force Training
The Control Crisis: Are Gadgets Replacing Real-World Use of Force Training
Vancouver Police Department
Inspector Romolo Ranallo delivered a dynamic and candid presentation examining the evolving landscape of police use-of-force training, questioning whether modern policing has become overly reliant on technology at the expense of foundational physical skills. His central message was clear: while both “gadgets and guts” are necessary, an imbalance has developed, with increasing dependence on tools leading to potential gaps in officer readiness and decision-making in high-risk situations.
Tracing the historical evolution of use-of-force tools from the 1960s to today, Inspector Ranallo demonstrated how policing has steadily incorporated new technologies from batons and lateral neck restraints to OC spray, tasers, carbines, and now advanced tools such as wrap devices, drones, and virtual reality training systems. While each innovation was introduced to enhance officer and public safety, he argued that this steady influx of equipment has sometimes overshadowed the need for strong physical literacy – the ability to effectively control situations through movement, positioning, and hands-on skills.
Using key incidents such as the Rodney King case and the Vancouver Airport investigation, Inspector Ranallo highlighted how gaps in physical control at initial contact can escalate encounters unnecessarily. He noted that despite advances in de-escalation and crisis intervention training, these approaches are not universally applicable – particularly in rapidly evolving, life-threatening events such as active shooter scenarios, where immediate action is required. He cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach and emphasized the importance of situational adaptability.
A significant portion of the discussion focused on the unintended consequences of gadget reliance. Inspector Ranallo argued that tools require proper integration, continuous training, and clear policy frameworks, yet officers may default to devices rather than foundational skills under stress. He introduced concepts such as SPRITE scenarios (structured training for threat recognition and response) and Vehicle Intervention Tactics (VIT) as examples of practical, skills-based approaches that complement technology. He also stressed the importance of evidence-based practices over anecdotal or untested methods and what he referred to as avoiding “MSU” (making stuff up).
Looking ahead, Inspector Ranallo explored emerging technologies, including drones and robotics, acknowledging their potential benefits but stressing the need for robust governance, training, and clarity in their deployment. He raised important questions about the future of policing, including the idea of two-tiered roles: officers specializing in physical interventions versus those focused on other policing functions and whether current education systems adequately prepare recruits with the physical competencies required for frontline work.
Ultimately, his presentation served as a call to rebalance police training by reinvesting in physical literacy alongside technological advancement. He challenged agencies to critically evaluate their approaches, ensure that officers are equipped not just with tools, but with the skills and judgment to use them effectively, and to maintain a policing model that prioritizes capability, adaptability, and officer confidence in real-world interactions.
Best Practices for Adopting AI Tools in Policing
Best Practices for Adopting AI Tools in Policing
University of British Columbia
Professor Benjamin Perrin’s presentation explored the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in policing, emphasizing both it’s potential and significant risks. He began by acknowledging that no single group currently holds all the expertise needed to guide AI adoption effectively. Instead, he advocated for interdisciplinary collaboration among legal experts, technologists, police practitioners, oversight bodies, and privacy commissioners to ensure responsible implementation in high-stakes public safety contexts.
A key concern raised throughout the presentation was the lack of independent, scientific validation of many AI tools currently being used or considered by police agencies. While some technologies have demonstrated improvements in efficiency or investigative capacity under controlled conditions, evidence of their real-world accuracy, reliability, and effectiveness remains limited. At the same time, Perrin highlighted widely documented risks including bias, errors, and privacy intrusions – many of which are not yet fully mitigated. The absence of clear, policing-specific legal frameworks and the lack of Charter-based judicial scrutiny further compound these concerns.
Professor Perrin provided practical examples to illustrate these challenges, including facial recognition technologies, automated license plate readers, and AI-assisted report-writing tools such as AXON’s Draft One, which is currently being piloted in Canada. He discussed the “verification-value paradox,” where AI-generated outputs may save time but require extensive review to ensure accuracy. Issues such as automation bias, where users assume AI outputs are correct, along with documented errors (including fabricated details or “hallucinations”), raise serious reliability and disclosure concerns. He also referenced real-world cases, such as State v. Carr (2024) and R v. J.L. (2000 SCC 51), underscoring the legal scrutiny applied to novel forms of evidence.
The presentation also examined significant privacy and ethical implications. Perrin pointed to the Clearview AI case in Canada, where billions of images were scraped without consent to create a facial recognition database – an action found to violate privacy laws. He stressed the importance of understanding how AI systems are trained, including potential biases in datasets, and questioned the legal authority underpinning the use of various databases in investigative contexts. These concerns highlight the need for transparency, accountability, and clear policy guidance.
To address these challenges, Perrin outlined emerging governance frameworks and best practices. He emphasized the importance of internal oversight mechanisms such as those being developed by the RCMP, Vancouver Police Department, and others, as well as the need for meaningful third-party oversight. Tools like Privacy Impact Assessments, Human Rights AI Impact Assessments, and transparency frameworks such as the RCMP’s National Technology Onboarding Program were highlighted as key components of responsible adoption.
In closing, Perrin stressed the importance of a precautionary, self-governed approach to AI integration in policing, supported by strong accountability measures and cross-sector collaboration. He encouraged agencies to remain focused on maintaining public trust while navigating this complex and rapidly evolving technological landscape.
Professor Benjamin Perrin’s research and case materials can be found at: https://benjaminperrin.ca/ai,
Equity Forward: Advancing Inclusion and Anti-Oppression Training in Policing
Equity Forward: Advancing Inclusion and Anti-Oppression Training in Policing
Program Coordinator | Police Foundations
Georgian College
Visible minorities in Canada often distrust the criminal justice system due to continued overt, covert and systemic racism. In particular, police are felt to target them unjustifiably (Ungerleider & McGregor, 1993). Continued incidents of police brutality and discrimination against minority groups have raised concerns about the need for further training and questioned the adequacy of police training programs (Andersen et al., 2023; Idoko, 2024). Despite the recent focus on effectively policing diverse communities, there is a paucity of research on the types of diversity programs and their effectiveness in improving police-community relations in Canada.
This research project aims to expand on the limited research available on diversity training in Canadian police services by working closely with two police services in Ontario to address their needs. The goals are to identify the main issues in their communities concerning policecommunity relationships, develop inclusion and anti-oppression training, and assess its effectiveness over time. This three-year project will utilize a sequential mixed methods design. This study seeks to work closely with two police services, which are both forward-thinking and innovative organizations, to identify critical concerns in their
communities as they relate to police-community relations, to develop an IATP customized to their communities' specific needs and to assess its effectiveness over time. Our research project has the potential to significantly impact, and drive innovation related to diversity training programs for police officers in Canada.
Read the Georgian College article here.
(Ret.) Chief Bob Rich
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Keeping Members Well - Preventing PTSD
Bob joined the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in 1980, where he worked for 28 years.
During his time at the VPD, he held a number of positions, including:
- Detective
- Professional Standards Investigator
- Patrol sergeant in the Downtown Eastside
- Surveillance team Sergeant in the Downtown Eastside
- President of the Vancouver Police Union
- Head of Training and Recruiting
- Head of Human Resources
- Commander of District 2, which includes the Downtown Eastside
- Deputy Chief of Operations
In 2008, Bob left the VPD to become the Chief Constable of the Abbotsford Police Department (APD), a position he held until 2018. During his time at APD, much of his work focused on suppressing gang violence and supporting member’s mental health.
During his time in leadership positions, he has focused on change management to improve policing procedures, prevent crime, and increase safety for the community.
From 2021 to 2024, he worked as an associate counsel at the law firm of Wilson Butcher, helping to defend police officers from both criminal and disciplinary allegations. Currently, he is doing consulting work for police agencies and other organizations.
Bob also teaches workshops on police leadership and preventing mental health disorders caused by the work first responders do. In 2025, he launched a free website devoted to that topic which can be found at: bobrich.ca
He has been awarded the Officer of the Order of Merit for the Police Forces in Canada (O.O.M.).
Insp. Romolo F. Ranallo
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
The Control Crisis: Are Gadgets Replacing Real-World Use of Force Training
Romolo F. Ranallo
Vancouver Police Department
Inspector Romolo Ranallo earned a Master of Science in Bioenergetics/Human Motor Performance from the University of British Columbia in 1999. He stands as one of Canada’s foremost authorities in police training, recognized for his unwavering dedication to elevating standards in use of force instruction and program innovation.
With 27 years of distinguished service in the Vancouver Police Department, Inspector Ranallo’s operational expertise was honed over years of front-line experience as an original member of the Beat Enforcement Team in Vancouver’s Downtown East side. Romolo has developed more than a dozen training programs from conception to implementation. He holds more than 20 course certifications spanning firearms, tactics, crisis intervention, and operational leadership. He has influenced policy and standards nationally as a member of the CACP Use of Force, Intervention, and De-escalation (UFID) Committee and provincially as a core member of several British Columbia Police Working Groups. Inspector Ranallo’s dedication extends beyond technical instruction; he has author numerous articles in police publications and distinguished as the only Canadian police officer to present at all four of the world’s largest law enforcement educator forums: ILEETA, IALEFI, NTOA, and IACP. His dynamic presentation style, commitment to evidence-based practice, and deep knowledge of emerging police training and related technologies have made his sessions a highlight at major conferences because he remains one of the few to tell it like it is.
Elder Caroline Buckshot
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
Conference Opening
Caroline Buckshot
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Elder Caroline Buckshot, whose traditional name is KaNigan a Pit meaning “Woman who teaches”, is an Elder and community member from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation of the Algonquin Nation in Maniwaki, Quebec.
Elder Buckshot’s career led to Provincial Corrections as an addiction counsellor and Native Liaison for ten years, four years in the community as an addiction counsellor and since 2007, has provided elder services in Federal Corrections. In addition, Elder Buckshot is a Gladue writer since 2011 for Legal Services Society (LSS) and presently for British Columbia First Nations Justice Council (BCFNJC). She has written over 3,000 Elder Review Initials, which captures the social history of the individual and develops healing plans and makes recommendations.
Most important, she is an Elder to young women in the community, providing spiritual guidance, and she is a proud mother of her son Andrew and grandmother to Brandon.
(Ret.) Insp. Rob Clarke
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
JIBC Tours and Lectures
Rob Clarke
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Inspector (Ret) Rob Clarke joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1991 after receiving a diploma in Criminal Justice. He graduated from the police academy with honours, receiving the Chief Constable’s award for being the overall outstanding recruit for Class 50.
Rob spent his first 8 years in patrol in Districts 1, 3, and 4. He completed assignments as a beat officer, bike patrol member, and in the communications center. In 1999, Rob was selected to the Emergency Response Team, where he spent 7 years as a tactical operator.
In 2007, Rob was promoted to Sergeant. He worked as a supervisor in Districts 1 and 3, in the Vancouver Jail and with the Integrated Gang Task Force. Rob was also a member of the Public Order Unit as the tactical support section’s program coordinator. In 2010 he was chosen as the Department’s Firearms Training Supervisor at the Tactical Training Centre.
Rob was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2013 and remained with the Training Section, where he continued to oversee many new training initiatives, including developing and teaching a course to Sergeants on how to respond effectively to a critical incident.
Rob was promoted to Inspector in 2015. After assisting with the creation of the Department’s strategic plan, he was assigned as a Duty Officer, where he worked for 4 years. During this time, he oversaw numerous major calls as a nationally accredited Critical Incident Commander and Instructor. Rob finished his career as a District Commander, overseeing operations in the downtown West End.
Rob has been working at the JIBC Police Academy since January 2022 as a firearms training instructor.
(Ret.) Sgt. Brad Fawcett
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
JIBC Tours and Lectures
Brad Fawcett
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Ret. Sgt. Fawcett finished his career with the VPD as the Sgt. in charge of Research and Special Projects for the VPD Force Options Training Unit. He is a 31-year police veteran and has worked in patrol, jail, crowd control, and training. He was a staff member at the JIBC Police Academy for over seven years, where he instructed use of force, physical fitness, drill, and tactical courses involving high-risk vehicle stops, building containment and searching, active shooter, and mental preparedness.
Ret. Sgt. Fawcett is also a master hypnotist and clinical hypnotherapist working with athletes to improve their performances. He is a court-qual- ified use-of- force and non-firearms prohibited weapons expert. He has provided opinion evidence in Coroners’ Inquests, civil trials, criminal trials up to and including the Supreme Court of British Columbia, labour rela- tions hearings, public hearings, and a commission of inquiry. Ret. Sgt. Fawcett has been a faculty member of three Law of Policing Conferences (Canada) and The International Law Enforcement Forum in Northern Ireland. He was a faculty member at the 2019 International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Chicago, where he presented with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and has been a staff instructor at several international use of force conferences.
Ret. Sgt. Fawcett has an extensive resume related to use of force. He has developed manuals and courses from conception through provincial approval. He has been a sessional instructor at a post-secondary insti- tution where he has instructed Ethics for a Law Enforcement Environment, and Professional Communications and was the Canadian Director of the International Association of Ethics Trainers (IAET) for ten years. He is the founder of the annual JIBC/LETA International Use of Force Expert Conference and is the co-ordinator of this event.
(Ret.) Sgt. Toby Hinton
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
JIBC Tours and Lectures
Toby Hinton
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Ret. Sgt. Toby Hinton is the current Program Manager for the JIBC Police Academy Control Tactics Training Team. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Political Science from Simon Fraser University. He was a member of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) for 30 years, with over 24 years dedicated to Beat policing in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver (17 as a Constable – 8 as a Beat Sergeant). For the final 5 years of his career, Toby worked as a Sergeant in the Force Options Training Unit (FOTU) of the VPD, where he specialized in Control Tactics training. While working in the FOTU, Ret. Sgt. Hinton helped develop an academic partnership for use of force research with Dr. Garth Davies (SFU School of Criminology) and utilized Subject Behaviour Officer Response Reports (SBOR) to inform and help drive use of force training for the VPD.
Ret. Sgt. Hinton is one of the founders of Police Judo (www.policejudo.ca), the VPD Police Judo Club (1997 to present), Simon Fraser University Police Judo Club (2010-2020), and currently instructs at the Odd Squad Police Judo (2019 to present). He has presented and delivered training on control tactics to police across Canada, the United States, Switzerland, China and Taiwan. He has also presented on use of force issues at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference (IACP) and the International Law Enforcement Education and Training Association (ILEETA) conferences.
Ret. Sgt. Hinton directed the Canadian Police Association (CPA) documentary “Understanding Police Use of Force” (2018) and has directed and helped produce numerous other educational documentaries through his work with the Burnaby-based charity Odd Squad Productions.
Ret. Sgt. Hinton has received multiple commendations at the agency level, the provincial level (4 Lieutenant Governor’s Awards), the national level (two Governor General’s Awards / Queen’s Diamond Jubilee) and the international level (International Association of Chiefs of Police).
Dr. Stephanie Dawson (Johnston)
C.A.P.E. 2026 Conference
Policing the Future: What's Important Now
JIBC Tours and Lectures
Stephanie Dawson (Johnston), PhD
Dawson Analytics
Dr. Stephanie Dawson (Johnston) is the founder and principal researcher at Dawson Analytics, Inc. Dr. Dawson earned her Ph.D. in Criminology from Simon Fraser University. Dr. Dawson has engaged policing-related research as both an academic and independent research consultant. She has contributed to multiple reports and articles related to policing and public safety and has presented her work to academics, local government officials, and agency executives. Her earliest works focused on police perceptions of crowd disorder and crowd management techniques. Her work has since expanded to focus on various elements of police-citizen interactions, including trends in police use of different force options, police engagement in street checks, and police perceptions of crisis intervention and de-escalation. Currently, Dr. Dawson works with municipal police services to ensure their policies and practices are evidence-based and best practice-informed.