Weapons, Force, and Personal Protective Gear
William A. Childress
CJA 585
September 5, 2011
Professor Brain Kissinger

Weapons, Force, and Personal Protective Gear Law enforcement officers and personal protection agents use much the same in weaponry, tactics, force, and personal protective gear in the performance of their daily duties. Within this paper those vital elements will be examined. Weapons used by the police and personal agents will be examined, beginning with offensive weapons, next will be defensive weapons, followed by tactical weapons. The use of force by the police and protection agents will follow weapons, and the paper will finish with an examination of protective gear, to include Kevlar® vests, neck and shoulder protection, and full body suits.
Weapons
Weapons are just as much a part of an officer’s or a protection agent’s uniform as his clothing. The weapon can be offensive, defensive, nonlethal, or a combination of these. What follows is a brief synopsis of some of the classes of weapons. Please note that many of the weapons can cross over into other classes, e.g. a water cannon may be used either offensively or defensively.
Offensive
Offensive weapons are used by law enforcement and protection agencies in the performance of their daily duties. These weapons include can include water cannons, rubber bullets, and percussive or flash explosive devices – meant to disorient the subjects involved temporarily. A sniper rifle is a long-range weapon, therefore used offensively. Law enforcement agencies create specific protocols for the appropriate use of each of these devices.
Defensive
A defensive weapon is “primarily intended for defending the user against an attacker” (WordIQ, 2011, p. 1). Defensive weapons have been clubs, daggers, knives, and more recently the handgun. These weapons are all used in close-range to the attacker, and they are sometimes affectionately referred to as “in-your-face” weapons because of the close-proximity required to use them. A defensive handgun is often carried concealed about the body by civilians for protective purposes.
Tactical
Tactical weapons are any weapon used in small-scale actions, usually employed at the battlefront. These weapons are “made or carried out with only a limited or immediate end in view” (Democratic Underground, 2011, p. 1). In this the term “tactical nuclear weapon” arises. This is also the case, when a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team is called to duty to help quell a major riot. This is considered a mini-battlefront, where the weapons used by the team become tactical. Because of the definition, any weapon can be a tactical weapon when applied to the criterion of small-scale action at the battlefront. Special weapons that collapse, fold, or slide to make them smaller for ease of carry aptly fit the tactical definition; accessories for a weapon, such as the 150-round double-drum magazine for the AR-15, also fit the tactical mold.
What of other weapons – those not meant to kill, but only to subdue a suspect. In the next few paragraphs nonlethal weapons will be discussed.
Nonlethal
Law enforcement and protection agents usually use nonlethal weapons when deadly force is not necessary to subdue, apprehend, or control someone in a harmful situation. Civilians use nonlethal weapons to protect themselves from criminals and other dangerous situations; nonlethal weapons are the more frequent choice of the civilian for protection because of the rigors of gun ownership – owning a gun is just not worth the effort. Many nonlethal weapons are available for use by the law enforcement community, the protection agent, and the average citizen. Among these is the family of incapacitating sprays, batons and flashlights, tasers and stun guns, personal alarms, water cannons, sound guns, flash grenades and stun grenades, nets, and close hand-to-hand combat. Many of the nonlethal weapons can fall into offensive as well as defensive categories, depending on the user and the weapons’ use. Incapacitating sprays mainly consist of pepper and spray mace. Pepper spray has as its main ingredient oleoresin capsicum (OC), derived from some of the hottest peppers in the world, Cayenne peppers. OC is a potent chemical used to blind and disable criminals or attackers temporarily. When sprayed into an attacker’s face, it “irritates the skin, eyes and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract . . . the end result is temporary incapacitation, mostly due to not being able to see” (MJW Inc., 2011, p. 1).
The effects of a dose of pepper spray are severe pain and discomfort that can last for up to 45 minutes. This is generally plenty of time for an officer to subdue a suspect. Mace is another type of nonlethal chemical weapon used by law enforcement personnel. Often confused with pepper spray (these terms are frequently used interchangeably), mace is similar to the compound found in tear gas (2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile). Mace is legal in very few countries, becoming an uncommon protective device.
Stun guns and tasers are forms of electrical control devices. These are hand held, battery powered weapons that send a powerful electric shock into the suspect, and will be quite painful and disabling for a short period. To make an effective shot with a taser, one must be within about 20-feet or so of the suspect. This close distance could put the agent or officer too close to the attacker; to remedy this problem the Taser XREP was developed. The Taser XREP, also-called the electrified shotgun shell, is a relatively new device that is a shotgun round that “hits you, sticks to your body, and delivers a 20-second shock while you writhe on the ground” (Harkins, 2008, p. 1)
Batons are a standard part of police equipment and are also commonly referred to as night sticks. A baton can be made from aluminum, extremely hard plastic, or wood; even a large flashlight such as the four D-battery Maglite© can be a baton. The baton is used to club or strike a person or serve as a restraining tool for choke holds and other subduing efforts when used in close hand-to-hand combat situations.
This latter paragraph infers the use of force by law enforcement in the arrest of a suspect, therefore leading into the next subject of this paper: the use of force.
Use of Force
The use of force by the police is defined as “the amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject” (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2001, p. 66). The force used when arresting a suspect can be as minimal as the mere presence of an officer, or as extreme as deadly force with a lethal weapon, e.g. a handgun. Other modes of force used can be verbal commands (a warning), empty hands (soft hand techniques, as in placing a guiding hand or hard hand techniques such as punches), and finally hand-held methods, such as a baton, stun gun, pepper spray, shields, water cannons, and flash explosives.
Police officers and their administrative officers encounter a problem with use-of-force because it is difficult to define “reasonable” use-of-force. Police use of force has received much attention from civilian review boards, attorneys, judges, elected officials, politicians, and other entities. The media impacts the opinion of the public and influences rulings in cases that involve police tactics consisting of the use of force. Therefore, it is important for management and administrators to be aware of factors that influence reasonableness.
Statistically, the use of force by the police would appear to be completely fair. According to the report of the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2001, data in 1999 shows that the police used force “at a rate of 3.61 times per 10,000 calls-for-service . . . a rate of use of force of 0.0361%” (p. i). This means that force was not used in 99.9639% of police calls! Physical force was the most often used, followed by chemical, and impact force.
A major problem with police abuse of force is the acknowledgement that the problem exists, but there is no concrete solution. The environmental factors that influence “reasonable” force can cause scrutiny and tarnish the reputation of an agency. This type of scrutiny can also raise questions about the professionalism of the officers involved. However, if an officer were to engage in the community problem-solving process, they are likely to receive better information about their work environment.
The debate over use of force has gained the attention of many entities. To control the discretion of police officers, administrators will have to propose effective policies that will prevent abuse of authority. A policy that will help maintain an image of authority in the public but will force supervisors to monitor and review the officers’ behavior and performance may not be well-received but could mean the difference between full cooperation between the police and the community or complete disharmony between them. A police department should have policies in place to address the issues surrounding use of force, and these policies should require police administrators to implement a review of the procedures taken when force is used. Written departmental rules maintain structure and control in the exercising of discretion, particularly the use of force. The Accreditation Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies, as promulgated by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), requires that written directives govern procedures for ensuring compliance with applicable standards (CALEA, 2010, p. 1). The requirements focus on areas that dictate what is “reasonable” within the work environment of the officer. Use of force will always be seen as the center of attention for police entities in reforming effectiveness when used to promote public safety. The use of force by the protection agent will be questioned by some members of the public, as the agent is not on the public police force. If the agency form whence the agent is hired has followed the letter of the law, this should not be an issue if brought to a lawsuit.
Personal Protective Gear
Kevlar®
Kevlar® is a “is a para-aramid fiber which displays excellent dimensional stability over a wide range of temperatures for prolonged periods” (Armorco, 2011, p. 1). Kevlar is used in a variety of applications, most of which involve military and law enforcement applications. Body armor, helmets, and bomb blankets and disposal suits are made with Kevlar®. Items made of Kevlar® are very expensive, which is one downside to the protective qualities of Kevlar®. Kevlar® body protection gear is rated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) at various levels as protection increases.
Level I is the thinnest material, and will stop a .38 special bullet at 850 feet per second (fps), or a .22 bullet at 1,050 fps. Level II-A will stop a 9mm bullet at 1,090 fps, or a .357 magnum bullet at 1,250 fps. Level II will stop a 9mm bullet at 1,175 fps or a .357 magnum bullet at 1,395 fps. Level III-A will stop a 9mm bullet or a .44 magnum bullet at 1,400 fps. Level III will stop a 30-caliber bullet, as in a .308 Winchester at 2,750 fps. Level II-A is the minimum recommended for law enforcement, and Level II is most recommended for concealed wear. Level III-A is considered the very best for high-risk situations. The last level, Level IV, protects against a .30-06 bullet that is armor-piercing. The material used for a Level-IV vest is brittle and tends to break when hit, therefore rendering it unusable when a bullet hits it.
Neck and Shoulder, Vests, and T-Shirt-Style Protection Ballistic vests and t-shirts made of Kevlar® can be concealable or tactical, and are manufactured to meet NIJ Levels II-A, II, and III-A. Concealable vests are either standard coverage with front and back panels, or complete coverage with side protection, or complete coverage with side and groin protection. Neck and shoulder protectors are manufactured to meet NIJ Level III-A standards and can be worn with all vest and t-shirts. Tactical vests are mostly complete coverage units with Level III-A protection. Also available are extra panels to place within the vests, and these are Level III protection – they supposedly will stop an AK-47 bullet or a .308 caliber bullet. Also available are ceramic plates for use with these vests, and they increase the stopping power to Level IV. Interesting to note also is there is a K-9 version of body armor for the officer’s best friend, available with NIJ Level II protection.
Helmets
Head protective gear is also made of Kevlar®. These items are designed to protect the ears and brain areas, and with the correct attachments offer some protection for the eyes. Helmets can be found in NIJ Levels II and III-A.
Full Body Outfits A full Kevlar® suit provides the greatest protection for the protection agent and a law enforcement officer. These outfits cover the extremities with Kevlar®. These outfits limit mobility and hold body heat that can render an officer or agent susceptible to the elements when wearing them. They should be used only in cases of an extreme threat, such as members of a bomb disposal unit.
Chemical and Biological Gear Law enforcement and protective agents may encounter airborne chemical or biological weapon agents while performing his or her duties, and they should also have protective clothing for these situations as well. A chemical protective suit lined with charcoal and a chemical warfare mask will often be enough protection for these environments. Agents to be encountered include nerve, blood, choking, and blister; some of these can be persistent and may remain suspended in the air or remain active on the suit for up to eight hours. A chemical agent identification kit with litmus papers (M8 or M9 paper, and the military standard M256A1 Chemical Agent Detector kit or the M18A2 Chemical Agent Detector Kit with detector tubes and paper tickets) is important to help recognize what type of agent the officer is dealing with. This aids in knowing how long the agent can be expected to remain in the suit – these suits are also movement-restrictive and are hot to wear.
Conclusion

Much the same in weaponry, tactics, force, and personal protective gear is used by law enforcement officers and personal protection agents alike in the performance of their daily duties. Within this paper those vital elements were examined. Weapons used by the police and personal agents have been examined, beginning with offensive weapons, followed by defensive weapons, and finally tactical weapons. The use of force by the police and protection agents followed the discussion of weapons. Rounding out the discussion in this paper was an examination of protective gear, to include Kevlar® vests, neck and shoulder protection, and full body suits. The reader should have a good understanding of weapons, the use of force, and protective armor.

References

Armoco (2011). Kevlar -Ballistic Fabrics. Retrieved September 4, 2011 from

http://www.armorco.com/shop/category.aspx?catid=2

CALEA (2010). Steps in the Accreditation Process. Retrieved September 4, 2011 from

http://www.calea.org/content/steps-accreditation-process

Democratic Underground.com (2011). How Do You Define ‘Tactical’. Retrieved September 4,

2011 from http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&

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Harkins, D. (2008). 6 "Non-Lethal" Weapons That'll Make You Wish You Were Dead. Retrieved

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International Association of Chiefs of Police (2001). Police Use of Force in America. Retrieved

September 4, 2011 from http://www.theiacp.org/Portals/0/pdfs/Publications/

2001useofforce.pdf

MJW, Inc. (2011). Your Greatest Protection. Retrieved September 4, 2011 from

http://www.yourgreatestprotection.com/peppersprayinformation-2.aspx

WordIQ.com (2011). Defensive weapon – Definition. Retrieved September 4, 2011 from

http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Defensive_weapon