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Four additional cadet troops served as control groups and were exposed to the pepper spray currently used by the force.

“Each concentration was evaluated to determine what, if any, effect the OCS had on officer performance (judgment, decision-making, confidence, tactics and officer safety, operational skills performance, and physical effects) as well as for any officer safety concerns,” Pfleiderer said.

“This information was collected and will form part of the evaluation to determine if another OCS concentration should be approved for use.”

David Calam, a spokesman at the RCMP Depot Division in Regina, said cadets were exposed to a one-second burst of spray to the face and then tasked with locating a radio to call for help. It typically took cadets about 70 seconds to complete the task, at which point they would get treatment. No one was left untreated.

While cadets were made aware they were participating in a study, they were not told what concentrations they were receiving, Calam said. Participation was mandatory.

The fact cadets couldn’t opt out doesn’t sit well with Rob Creasser, a retired Mountie and spokesman for the Mounted Police Professional Association of Canada. He said he sees value in having new recruits experience what it’s like to be sprayed, but he thinks it should be voluntary.

Fighting through the worst experience of your life is empowering, it makes you feel as though you can survive anything

“I’m not so sure compelling them to do so is the way to go,” he said.

A health services officer at the RCMP Depot was consulted before and during the study and “no reactions or adverse effects outside of the norm were noted,” the force said. Further, each of the concentrations used in the study fell in line with concentrations used by other police agencies.