Article content

After a knife-wielding woman became the 10th person shot — and the fifth killed — by Calgary police this year, Chief Roger Chaffin called for an independent probe to investigate why there have been so many police shootings in 2016.

“This is not about any one particular shooting, however I’m compelled to ensure our members have the correct leadership, policy, procedures and equipment, as well as training, to ensure that we are policing the community in the safest, most contemporary way possible, given the changing nature of criminality in this city,” Chaffin said Tuesday before bringing the proposal to the Calgary police commission.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Calgary police Chief Roger Chaffin wants independent review of police shootings this year Back to video

The chief described the number of police shootings this year as an “unsettling trend” for the public and for officers, who he said are increasingly being forced into “chaotic situations” driven by the presence of drugs, including opioids and methamphetamine.

Photo by Al Charest / Postmedia

The chief addressed media after police oversight body the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) launched its 10th investigation this year into a police shooting in Calgary.

While Chaffin didn’t speak to the details of the latest shooting, ASIRT, which investigates incidents involving police that result in serious injury or death, said the shooting took place in the 1700 block of 11th Avenue S.W. at around 2:30 a.m.