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LEO opinions on this

bigtire
I would like to know what the LEOs on this board think about this. I think the flashlight is a legitimate weapon for a LEO. I think they are addressing the problem in the wrong way. Don't take a tool function away from an officer just because a few misuse it.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,262645,00.html

Los Angeles Police to Get Flashlights Too Small to be Weapons

Friday, March 30, 2007

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles police will soon be outfitted with a cutting edge flashlight that is not only brighter than others, but too small to be used as a weapon.

The idea for the 7060 LED flashlight was conceived just days after news cameras broadcast images of LAPD officers beating car-theft suspect Stanley Miller with a two-pound, two-foot long standard issue police flashlight.

Police Chief William Bratton banned the large flashlights after Miller's 2004 beating and called for manufacturers to create a smaller, brighter flashlight.

The new 10-inch, $100 flashlight was developed and manufactured by the Torrance-based company Pelican to meet LAPD specifications. It will feature both a standard "patrol mode" and an ultra-light "tactical mode" that is bright enough to temporarily blind suspects.

Bratton is scheduled to unveil the new flashlights Friday.

Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, praised the LAPD for the equipment change.

"It's a really important step in the right direction, and it's going to make a difference in how the police department deals with the community," she said. "We've always felt that a flashlight was not an instrument to beat people with. This new one will serve the purpose it was intended to."
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • D1
    Anything can be used as an impact weapon. What are they going to do redesign 2x4's if someone picks one up and uses it as a defensive weapon? Too much regulation. Just like the rest of the world. Don't put yourself in a situation like that and you won't have to worry about being hit with a flashlight. Keep acting like a idiots and cause the would to react to idiots and it all goes to sheeiit. (Not you bigtire, just all the democrats and other idiots that think we should regulate everything.)
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  • Colt Super
    You mean I can use my old Kel-Light io illuminate something??

    I thought it was covered by my CCW and the Second Ammendment.

    Doug
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  • carbine100
    Next they will want to redesign their guns to shoot flower petals.
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  • Txs
    I'm wondering what flashlight they carry that's 2 ft. long.
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  • PC800
    I've been out of the LE game for quite a while and even back then we were NOT allowed to use our C cell mag lights as an impact weapon. In fact it was made very clear to us that if we did, we would be charged and then most likely sued for using a non-issue weapon and the FOP would not stand behind us. We were not allowed to use anything as a weapon that we were not specifically trained with, and that was only PR-24 and firearms. One officer did hit a guy with his portable radio during a fight and he got in all sorts of trouble. We were also not allowed to carry a backup gun, so some guys started to carry a boot knife as a last ditch weapon. That was stopped as soon as the LT saw one sticking out from a guys pant leg at roll call.
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  • Wrangler
    PC gone amuck! LA will take away their ASP batons next.
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  • Nighthawk
    I do like the convenience of the smaller brighter lights, I carry a surefire on my Duty Belt. I grab my recharble mounted Maglight at night when I exit my cruiser. For the main reason other than light, it serves as a deterent against a perp who may be considering an attack against you. They can be quickly used in cases where you may be struggling to subdue a subject by hitting him across the collar bone. Once usually works rendering the attackers arm useless. There are many instances when you dont have time to grab your ASP Baton and you must use your flashlight. But a accidental strike or strike to the head is considered lethal use of force. I havent heard of any problems in this area, but have read about some over use of force with a Maglight or an occasional accidental strike to the head. I dont expect to see ours taken away any time soon.
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  • Grunt2
    Years ago we had an officer sued for popping a guy in the head with his flashlight...He was on a traffic stop, driver refused to shut off the vehicle, so he reached in to turn off the car and the guy trapped his arm and drove off with the deputy!. The deputy promptly smacked him with the flash light and got the driver stopped. The driver collected $$$$$ and about six stitches out of the deal..
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  • spryor
    quote:Originally posted by Grunt2
    Years ago we had an officer sued for popping a guy in the head with his flashlight...He was on a traffic stop, driver refused to shut off the vehicle, so he reached in to turn off the car and the guy trapped his arm and drove off with the deputy!. The deputy promptly smacked him with the flash light and got the driver stopped. The driver collected $$$$$ and about six stitches out of the deal..
    I guess he'd been much better off if he just shot him.
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  • Kodiakk
    quote:Originally posted by Txs
    I'm wondering what flashlight they carry that's 2 ft. long.


    Mag-lite. Cops I talk with would rather use mag-lites then asps.
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  • bama55
    I like my 3 D-cell Mag Lites. Especilly with the LED bulb upgrade.
    Have one in each vehicle and one on the bedside table.
    I knew an asst. chief that broke the on/off switch of an "unbreakable" Kel-Lite one time. Perp. bit his arm, KL made him turn loose.[;)]
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