Radar ‘Guns’ Holstered in Cancer Scare
The Connecticut State Police has banned the use of hand-held radar guns because of concerns that troopers could develop cancer from longterm exposure to the radiation waves the devices emit.
The move, believed to be the first of its kind by a state police agency, was taken two months after three city police officers filed workers’ compensation claims stating that they developed cancer from using hand-held radar guns.
The ban was ordered Tuesday as a precaution while possible links between cancer and use of the devices are studied, state police spokesman Adam Berluti said.
“The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue,” he said. “The whole situation is still under review. A lot of feedback says they are no more dangerous than a microwave.”
Berluti said the ban, withdrawing 70 radar guns from service, will not affect speed law enforcement. State troopers will continue to use units with transmitters mounted on the outside of cruisers.
Kustom Signals Inc. of Kansas, the nation’s leading manufacturer of radar guns, has repeatedly denied that they pose any hazard.
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