NCJ Number
1726
Date Published
1970
Length
47 pages
Annotation
A TWO-SECTION SURVEY OF POLICE WEAPONS DATA COVERS INFORMATION NEEDS OF AND CURRENT USAGE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE USA.
Abstract
SECTION ONE OF THE SURVEY INDICATES THE PRIORITIES ASSIGNED BY RESPONDING AGENCIES TO FIVE CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION NEEDS RELATIVE TO POLICE WEAPONS AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. THE SURVEY ESTABLISHED TRAINING MATERIAL DATA AS THE GREATEST NEED, FOLLOWED IN ORDER BY TACTICAL USE DATA, COMPARATIVE TESTING DATA, COST DATA, AND PROCUREMENT SPECIFICATIONS. SECTION TWO OF THE SURVEY COMPILED DATA FROM RESPONDING AGENCIES ON THEIR CURRENT USAGE OF POLICE WEAPONS AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. USAGE DATA INCLUDED MANUFACTURER OR BRAND, MODEL OR IDENTIFYING DATA, CALIBER OR SIZE OR GAUGE, AND APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF THE ITEM IN USE OR ON HAND. EQUIPMENT ITEM CATEGORIES COVERED WERE HANDGUNS, SHOTGUNS, RIFLES, AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, AEROSOL IRRITANT PROJECTORS, CHEMICAL GRENADES, CHEMICAL PROJECTILES, NIGHTSTICKS, RIOT BATONS, BODY ARMOR, AND MASKS AND HELMETS. THE SURVEY COVERED AGENCIES WHOSE JURISDICTION RANGED IN POPULATION SIZE FROM LESS THAN 25,000 TO OVER 1,000,000. FORMS WERE MAILED TO 2,564 AGENCIES. HOWEVER, ONLY 388 WERE RETURNED AND USABLE.