What are the two major less than lethal weapons developed for law enforcement?
The two major less than lethal weapons that I have chosen are: Taser gun and tear gas that were developed for law enforcement officials. Now the eldest and most extensively used non-lethal law enforcement device is the tear gas, which has stayed accessible since the 1950s, and is used both to control a specific person and crowds. Its admiration is based on both its cost efficiency and its effortlessness use and, most essential, aside from the rare cases, its non-lethality. Tear gas is mostly used by every law enforcement individual in the world and it is a main non-lethal, crowd control tool for military units, as well. For that reason the supply of tear gas is overwhelming once it’s used, most uses contain larger crowds of individuals who are involved in violent behaviors.
The Taser gun is a more recent but further common when law enforcement officers want and need to control a more forceful individual who is either a danger to themselves or to others. The Taser sends an electrical current into the body through small, needle like wires that mess up certain
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normal nerve paths, and the person will commonly lose control over his or her body. Once the Taser hits the body and the needle like wires attaches into the skin, the electrical current will affect some neural (brain) functions which may possibly cause some enduring damages, but in most cases the effects are just impermanent. Therefore, they will become easier for law enforcement personnel to handle and get them into a safe environment. But for a person, who suffers from epilepsy, this could cause some serious damage and that individual could possibly be seriously hurt, maybe even die from the Taser’s effects. How have these weapons helped law enforcement and reduce injury? “Today the quest continues for a noncontroversial and effective alternative to lethal force. The TASER ECD has probably developed more rapidly than any other tool and arguably carries the most promise for close-in applications. Still, police nationwide - some in cities that have witnessed loud public outcries in the aftermath of fatal police shootings - continue to seek a weapon that offers a less-lethal alternative, one that stops short of the deadly firearm. One has to wonder if there can ever be a less-lethal weapon developed that can truly and completely replace the firearm. Pepper spray (oleoresin capsicum) is also a popular less-lethal tool - although it is useful only when the officer is positioned in close proximity to the suspect - and it is now in use by 97 percent of municipal police and sheriff’s departments. This spray inflames the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth, causing a severe burning sensation for twenty minutes or less. The spray is highly effective in subduing suspects without causing undue harm or long-term aftereffects” (Peak, 2012). What are the risks associated with these weapons if any? “A study announced in late 2007 by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, however - touted as “the first large, independent study to review every TASER deployment and to reliably assess the overall risk and severity of injuries in real world conditions”- reported that 99.7 percent of nearly a thousand cases of TASER use resulted in only mild injuries, such as scrapes and bruises, or no injuries at all; only three subjects (0.3 percent) suffered injuries severe enough to need hospitalization. In October 2009, TASER International, Inc. issued a training bulletin advising law enforcement officers to aim the TASER at the abdomen, back, and leg areas, rather than the chest area. Although the TASER poses an “extremely rare” risk of inducing a heart attack, TASER observed that “arrest scenarios often involve individuals who are in crisis and are at a heightened risk of serious injury or death, regardless of actions taken by law enforcement”; also, sudden cardiac arrest is “a leading cause of death in the United States, and often occurs in an arrest scenario,” and “plaintiff attorneys will likely file an excessive use of force claim against the law enforcement agency and officer, and try to allege that the TASER ECD played a role in the arrest related death.” In addition, aiming the TASER away from the chest “lessens the risk of shot placement into areas that are undesirable such as the head, face, neck, and female breast.” (Peak, 2012, pp. 461-462). Tear gas is a chemical compound normally used by law enforcement to control rebellion circumstances and vacate structures.
The military uses tear gas to test soldiers' aptitude to put chemical warfare suits on in an appropriate fashion. Tear gas is operative at ending crowds and convincing people out of narrowed spaces because it causes punishing uneasiness by exasperating the eyes, skin and mucous membranes. Tear gas affects the eyes to have some kind of irritation and punishing tearing. The tearing and exasperation are often so harsh that people who have been subjected to tear gas would not be able to see correctly and might not be able to keep their eyes open at all. It is frequent for eyes and eyelids to swell obviously but tear gas can also aggravate the bare skin, causing it to have a burning feeling and a visible
rash. Some other effects that tear gas may have on someone is when it is breathe in; it can cause painful inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and mouth. Meaning that it can cause that person to drool uncontrollably, have an excessive runny nose, fiery, itching, and trouble swallowing. Another effect would be towards the lungs which if the tear gas is inhaled then it will cause the lungs within the chest to tighten up, causing that person to have shortness of breath, coughing, gagging, and a choking sensation. Some other contact to tear gas could also cause biliousness and vomiting, particularly in cases that have a more persistent contact or when a large quantity of tear gas is breathe in. If someone has extended the exposure to tear gas it can cause some serious injuries to the eyes, skin, and lungs. You can potentially die from tear gas exposure, typically caused by respiratory failure. People who have heart conditions, asthma, or other breathing problems are especially vulnerable to death from tear gas exposure.
All agencies that equip their officers with Tasers properly train their personnel as well as have it in their use of force continuum. Mr. Bryan was stopped for a seatbelt violation and although he was being vulgar and acting irate, he was not directing it towards Officer McPherson. Even though Bryan exited his vehicle, Officer McPherson could have gave him commands to just stay at the vehicle and do not approach him unless directed to. I have been on traffic stops when the driver abruptly exited the vehicle without being directed to do so. My thought on this is even though they exited their vehicle, I do not want them to get back into their vehicle because they may have a weapon in the vehicle that they cannot now reach or drive off, and I can keep a better eye on their actions out of the vehicle. I believe that Officer McPherson could have handled this situation a lot better with more verbal judo and professionalism. Even though it is taught that a reactionary gap of 21 feet is recommended when dealing with an unknown suspect, Officer McPherson could tell that Bryan had nothing in his hands and did not pose a threat. I am not a fan of Taser guns for the simple fact that there have been too many lawsuits and injuries that stem from the usage of them. My department’s view on them is that they are not necessary and as long as the trooper is properly trained in
The Use of the TASER in the Police Force. The use of conducted energy weapons in the police force has become increasingly popular since they were introduced only a short while ago. The TASER is claimed to be the safest and most productive type of less lethal force in use today, with a very quick recovery rate and no long term side effects. The TASER has quickly taken over the harsh use of pepper spray, the brutal force of the baton and in some cases the firearm.
This essay will focus on two main points that will support the argument that more Tasers should not be given to more officers. First off, there has not been enough research completed to deem Tasers as a safe alternative weapon that officers can use to gain compliance of violent individuals that they may deal with on a day-to-day basis. Before more Tasers are given to officers, there needs to be more research done outlining the possible risks that CEWs pose to the human body, and any short or long term affects that may arise due to the use of CEWs on individuals. Secondly, the issuing of Tasers to more officers is not a good idea because just like anything else, Tasers can lead to an overreliance on the part of police officers to resort to the use of Tasers on individuals who do not comply with them. This along with the absence of clear and strict guidelines that stipulate when officers are to use their Tasers on non-compliant individuals will lead to abuse. Many police officers may decide to bypass the use of verbal commands, empty-handed strikes, and other tools at their disposal such as the ASP baton, when dealing with a violent individual...
For this paper there are many current events in the united states and across the world that directly correlate with my literature I am reviewing. What I was chosen to research, or what my research question ended up being was. In what situation can a police officer use lethal or deadly force. There are many variables and situational characteristics that play into how police officers handle high risk violent encounters. for instance, some variables could be how the police officer was trained, public attitudes towards police officers, psychological makeup of the police officer, previous or current behaviors of the police officer, the police officer current mental state, also previous incidents with police officers having to use lethal or deadly force. This topic is very challenging because there is not as much
Smith, M. R., Petrocelli, M., & Scheer, C. (2007). Excessive force, civil liability, and the taser in
Use of Electronic Control Devices (ECD’s) such as the widely used taser X26 at the discretion of police officers can be a very useful tool in order to temporarily disable and obtain custody of a non-compliant suspect. When used appropriately it can even reduce the risk of a suspect physically harming the officer, himself or others through temporary physical incapacitation. However these devices need not be used unnecessarily, and officers who do employ their use liberally and without just cause should not go without appropriate disciplinary measures proportionate to the magnitude of the situation. I would like to shed light on a few examples of ECD use where officer discretion have come under scrutiny.
This includes riot shields, tear gas, and rubber bullets. If necessary, police officers have access to military weapons.
... Batons also tear skin, break bones and require officers to get up close to subjects to apprehend them. The Taser has a more effective rate than other less lethal options with less chance of injury to all involved.
It is safe to say that tasers are not as lethal as guns, but they can still cause serious damage to individuals. This is because not everyone has the same body and not everyone will have the same reaction to 50,000 volts of electricity. In the text, “Taser Controversy Refuses to Die” by author Matthew Davis, “the ‘less - than - lethal’ weapons have been involved one 74 deaths in the United States and Canada” (5,1). Tasers are known as weapons that are
For example, according to Dara lind “Officer’s aren’t supposed to shoot to kill. They’re supposed to do whatever is necessary to disable the threat”(Lind). Whenever an officer gets caught up in a difficult situation where deadly force is needed for the most part officers do shoot to kill because they feel like there life is in danger themselves. Yes like they said they are supposed to do whatever is necessary so therefore if shooting to kill someone is necessary to them then for police officers it is the right thing to do. But in reality in some occasions deadly force by a cop resulting in someone’s death is not needed and there should be other alternatives to handle difficult problems like that. In addition, “Usually, the point from where the officer believes he has to use deadly force to the point where he uses deadly force -- where he pulls
Police Brutality Police work is dangerous. Sometimes police put in situations that excessive force is needed. But, because some officers use these extreme measures in situations when it is not, police brutality should be addressed. The use of excessive force may or may not be large problem, but it should be looked into by both the police and the public. For those people who feel racism is not a factor in causing the use of excessive force, here is a startling fact. In Tampa Bay, Florida, five men died while in the custody of the
Attention Getter: Are all the officers who are intended to "Protect and Serve" really following through with that?
Police violence remains a dire human right violation, especially in the United States. Over the last decade, police have applied force and aggression in ways that leave people wondering if they are discharging their duties. Recently, law enforcement seems to have taken a different turn characterized by aggression and violence when dealing with the public. Cases of unjustified shootings, physical assault, fatal chokings and violent treatment have contributed to the ongoing problem of police brutality in the America. Worse still is the fact that a greater proportion of these cases go unreported and undetected. This has partially encouraged violent police officers to continue applying force when dealing with the public. This new law enforcement
When hearing the phrase “police brutality,” many people imagine batons cracking skulls, tasers electrocuting bodies and bullets penetrating innocent teens. While police officers have been known to use violence, police brutality does not occur as often as many believe. In many situations, officers have to act on impulse and curiosity, despite the backlash the media may create.
The laws include, false arrest, cruel execution, excessive force, and failure to intervene. Physical excessive force, such as punching, kicking, and batons, is the most common type of police brutality (Packman). According to Wihbey and Kille, the most common device used for brutality is a taser. A taser is a weapon that uses an electrical charge to incapacitate a target. It can be very brutal depending on the area it affects. Police Brutality potentially happens because the police have the authority to use force when necessary, making it difficult to prove brutality has taken place. When officers are full of adrenaline and anger they use absurd actions without thinking. Some officers may think they are protecting their own lives from danger and that gives them the right to use excessive force. Today, more officers are recording all interactions they have with suspects to avoid false suspicions. According to the Cop Crisis’ statistics, citizens are killed by police about every eight hours and so far this year, police alone have killed 1107 Americans. The most horrific incidents are against children, women, handicapped, and