Candidates for Swiss elite police required to wear electric collars during training

By Timo Kirez

GENEVA (AA) – In the Swiss canton of Vaud, candidates for a special police unit are required to wear electric shock collars during their training.

Police on Wednesday confirmed a report to that effect by Swiss daily 20 Minuten. Electroshock collars are intended to test how the candidates react to stress.

The police spokesman for Vaud, Jean-Christophe Sauterel, condemned the procedure to 20 Minuten as unacceptable, saying the Vaud police leadership had not known about it. That is why an internal investigation is now underway, he said.

"The candidates for the Detachement d'action rapide et de dissuasion (Dard) had to complete a tactical course. To increase their stress, the executives in charge of this selection decided to use an electric collar that generates discharges on command," Sauterel told the newspaper.

The method was initiated by Dard executives and, above all, violates the Corps' ethics and values, he said.

Although the selection of Dard members must be demanding, it must be done "with respect for the candidates," he added.

Electric shock collars are typically used to train dogs. But even for dogs, they are now banned in Switzerland.