Legislators debated limitations on police use of firearms, prison security and the death sentence following the arrest yesterday morning of a prison escapee suspected of killing two police officers in Tainan on Monday.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) at a news conference called on the government to amend the Act Governing the Use of Police Weapons (警械使用條例).
The act needs to be reviewed, as police officers are often hurt in the line of duty, KMT caucus deputy secretary-general Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐) said, adding that it has been too long since it was last changed in June 2002.
Photo: Wang Shu-hsiu, Taipei Times
KMT Legislator Sandy Yeh (葉毓蘭) said that officers face unreasonable consequences given the danger they are asked to face, citing the example of police officer Yeh Chi (葉驥), who was found guilty of professional negligence causing death after a 2014 incident in which he fired three shots at a fleeing fugitive, who died in hospital.
Monday’s killings raise questions regarding minimum-security prisons, as the suspect escaped from Mingde Minimum Security Prison in Tainan, Sandy Yeh said.
Such facilities are to help inmates develop self-discipline and prepare them for reintegrating into society, she said.
Photo: Liao Chen-huei, Taipei Times
The Ministry of Justice’s Agency of Corrections should reassess safety measures, the number of guards and budgets for equipment at minimum-security prisons, she said.
The suspect was imprisoned in October last year to serve a seven-year sentence, but was transferred to Mingde in March, Cheng said.
“How can an inmate who has such a heavy sentence be transferred to a minimum-security prison so early into his time?” he asked.
Criminal Investigation Bureau data showed that last year there were 100 cases involving illegal ownership of guns or shootings, a record, KMT caucus whip William Tseng (曾銘宗) said, adding that public security has degraded severely since President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) took office.
New Power Party caucus convener Chiu Hsien-chih (邱顯智) questioned the management at Mingde prison, as 39 people have escaped from the facility in the past decade.
The selection of prisoners who can be transferred to such facilities is unclear, Chiu said, adding that the process should be overseen by a judge.
Legislative Speaker You Si-kun (游錫?) told reporters that “the death sentence must be imposed” regarding Monday’s killings, prompting debate over whether an execution was warranted.
Chiu said that political leaders “should not incite emotions at this time,” but focus on finding suspects and investigating.
At a separate news conference, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Kuo Kuo-wen (郭國文) said that there is no mandatory death penalty and the case should be handled by the judiciary.
DPP Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) said that the DPP caucus fully supports the police and thanked them for arresting the suspect so soon after the incident.
Separately, Tainan city councilors asked whether there are enough police officers in the city.
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) said that the city government would work on increasing the number of police officers as necessary.
The city government would also improve police training and allocate more funds for purchasing equipment, Huang said.
Additional reporting by Wang Shu-hsiu and CNA
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