LESS LETHAL ALTERNATIVES : Employing New Devices to Subdue Suspects

In recent years, particularly after the Rodney G. King case, the use of less-than- lethal weapons has become increasingly popular among a wide variety of law enforcement agencies. The aim is simple--to disable, but not kill, the target.

The devices range from gas to Tasers to beanbags. Some are launched by special devices. Some are thrown. Some, like the beanbags, are fired from ordinary shotguns. They’re being used in the field or in penal institutions like the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho, where deputies are frequently asked to quell fights between prisoners.

The devices are not without drawbacks. On a windy day, pepper spray could come back toward an officer. Beanbags might not disable a target.

Police and manufacturers of the devices are often careful to call them “less than lethal,” rather than “non-lethal,” weapons. Fatalities can occur, depending on how and where a person is struck by a projectile.

K01: Baton Type Impact Ammunition

Caliber: 37 mm Projectile weight: 77.5 grams Velocity: 240 f/s Kinetic energy: 153 f/lbs Baton material: polyurethane

NO. 23 12-Gauge Beanbag Rounds

Diameter: 12 gauge Length: 2.7 inches Contents: 1 bean bag Weight: 0.147 oz. Velocity: 280 feet per second

SL-6: Multi-Role Projectile Launcher

Action type: Semi automatic Overall length: 33 inches Caliber: 37 mm Capacity: 6 shots Weight: 10.6 lbs. Barrel: 10.5 inches Range: 328 feet

Other Alternatives

Pepper Spray: Technically known as Oleoresin capsicum, commonly called pepper spray, the mist causes a burning sensation in the eyes but does not cause permanent damage. The spray is carried by all Los Angeles police officers and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies.

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Stinger cartridges: These cartridges, packed with rubber pellets that sting on impact, are with fired with a 37-millimeter launcher. They come in two sizes. One is five inches long and contains 140 pellets, the other is eight inches long and contains 220 pellets. The cartridges disperse the pellets in a controlled pattern.

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Stinger grenades: For a wider distribution of pellets, stinger grenades are available. The grenades, made of rubber, contain an explosive charge that disperses 180 pellets in a 50-foot radius. Both stinger grenades and cartridges are used to control scuffles at the county jail in Castaic.

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Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept., LAPD, DEFTECH