Procurement of new equipment and improved training on firearm safety are in place to enhance the safety of on-duty police officers, the National Police Agency (NPA) said on Thursday as it marked Police Day.
Since 2003, 28 police officers have been killed while on duty, NPA data showed. Seven were stabbed to death, four killed by firearms, eight were killed in traffic accidents or by suspects driving vehicles into officers, two died while fighting to subdue fleeing suspects and seven were killed due to natural disasters.
Rank-and-file officers said numerous problems still remain, chiefly a shortage of personnel, too much administrative work and an excessive number of special tasks, and they called on the government to enact measures to protect officers’ safety.
Photo courtesy of the National Police Agency via CNA
“New assessments have been made in recent years to analyze the threats and dangers that on-duty officers face and also to improve the working environment and boost security for police officers,” the NPA said. “Systematic studies have taken into account safety measures and recommendations by officers themselves. Currently we are working on proposed amendments to the law to better protect police while on duty, based on the core principles of government as a strong backup for police officers as they strive to uphold law and order, and to safeguard our society,” it said.
Two major policies are in place to enhance training and education programs for officers and to provide more equipment, NPA officials said.
The Executive Yuan has evaluated and approved the “Strengthen Security of Police on Duty” program 2.0.
As part of the program, the NPA is procuring 42,213 electric-shock guns with training cartridges, 30,559 pairs of cut-resistant safety gloves, 12,299 new tactical portable shields, 43,793 tactical vests and 7,926 miniature cameras.
An amendment last year to the Act Governing the Use of Police Weapons (警械使用條例) has opened up more situations and conditions in which officers can use their weapons, NPA officials said.
The amendment also regulates cases in which shootings took place, including the creation of an investigation task force and the conditions whereby state compensation can be sought by victims, providing effective protection for police officers when they deem the need to use firearms, the NPA said.
It also has provisions for a “litigation aid for police performing duties review committee” for applying for subsidies for legal fees and also providing legal counseling sessions for officers who had to use firearms, it added.
NPA officials also touted fitness and physical conditioning training for officers and an education program on dealing with members of the public, along with enhanced training on handling new equipment.
The NPA said that 10 new virtual reality interactive shooting ranges have been built since 2020 at a cost of NT$200 million (US$6.51 million), as well as plans for two long-range rifle shooting ranges and three handgun practice ranges.
Training would cover situations in which police officers come under attack, are ambushed or sustain injuries or deaths of fellow officers, utilizing lessons from cases in Taiwan and in other nations, which would improve officers’ ability to handle crisis situations and to protect themselves, the NPA said.
“We will continue to implement improvements and new programs, to build a complete safety framework for police officers, to enhance education and training with new equipment, to ensure the safety of officers on duty so they can perform law enforcement tasks without fear and therefore uphold security in society,” NPA officials said.
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