NCJ Number
65749
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 44,46,48,50,52
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
POLICE WEAPON POLICY IN THE 1980'S WILL BE DICTATED BY CONSIDERATIONS OF CIVIL LIABILITY AND EFFICIENT PROFESSIONALISM WITHIN THE LETTER OF CHANGING STATUTES AND CRIMINAL CODES.
Abstract
POLICE WILL HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME ARISING FROM ECONOMIC INSTABILITY AND POLITICAL UNREST. TO CONFRONT THIS GREATER CHALLENGE, POLICE WEAPONRY IN THE 1980'S WILL INCLUDE INCREASED USE OF THE 'BLACK FLASHLIGHT,' A COMBINATION IMPACT WEAPON AND ILLUMINATION TOOL, HIGH PERFORMANCE IMPACT WEAPONS, INLCUDING THE DEVICE KNOWN AS THE 'PROSECUTOR,' AND INCAPACITATING CHEMICAL AEROSOLS (TEAR GAS/TEAR SMOKE). THESE WEAPONS ARE EXTREMELY EFFICIENT AND ARE HIGHLY COURT-DEFENSIBLE; THE NATIONWIDE TREND TOWARD CIVIL SUITS AGAINST OFFENDERS AND DEPARTMENTS FOR BRUTALITY IN INSTANCES WHERE ANY LEVEL OF FORCE IS USED WILL ONLY ACCELERATE THIS USE. PURCHASE OF FULLY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS FOR POLICE ARSENALS WILL ALSO INCREASE THOUGH THEIR EMPLOYMENT WILL BE RIGIDLY RESTRICTED BY COMMANDING OFFICERS. THE MAJOR WEAPON IN POLICE SIDEARMS TO GAIN INCREASED ACCEPTANCE IS THE STAINLESS REVOLVER. THE SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOL WILL REMAIN IN USE AS AN OFF-DUTY AND BACKUP WEAPON. HIGH-SPEED EXPANDING BULLETS, CALLED HOLLOWPOINTS, WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED IN THE 1980'S, AND WIDESPREAD ADOPTION OF SNATCH-RESISTANT HOLSTERS WILL OCCUR. POLICE ARMOR FOR ALL-DAY WEAR WILL EVENTUALLY BE PACKAGED AS A TOTAL SYSTEM OF PROTECTION. BY 1982, POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE UNIVERSALLY PROHIBITED FROM SHOOTING FLEEING FELONS AND WILL BE EMPOWERED TO USE DEADLY FORCE ONLY IN SELF-DEFENSE (AGAINST A LIFE-THREATENING ASSAILANT) OR TO HALT AN ASSAULT ON A CITIZEN THAT CAN BE PREVENTED IN NO OTHER WAY. THE PRACTICE OF CARRYING A BACKUP GUN IS LIKELY TO BECOME MORE POPULAR. HOWEVER, MOST DEPARTMENTS WILL REQUIRE THAT THE SECOND GUN BE LISTED TO THE OFFICER BY SERIAL NUMBER. MORE TRANING IN QUALIFICATION FIRING WILL BE REQUIRED, AS WILL TRAINING IN THE USE OF IMPACT WEAPONS AND CHEMICAL AGENTS. COURT DECISIONS IN THE 1970'S THAT PLACED THE BURDEN OF PUNITIVE DAMAGES UPON THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER HAVE CAUSED GRAVE CONCERN AMONG LINE OFFICERS AND AS A RESULT, MAJOR POLICE ASSOCIATIONS PROBABLY WILL MOVE TOWARDS ESTABLISHING A NATIONWIDE GROUP LIABILITY INSURANCE PLAN OR STATUTORY IMMUNITY FOR INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. (PRG)