March 2023 Blues Vol 39 No. 3

U.S. law enforcement

U.S. law enforcement agencies for unruly crowds and riot control. These munitions on average travel approximately 300 feet per second and hit the human body at an average force of 100-120 foot-pounds. These less-lethal munitions, even when deployed according to manufacturers’ guidelines, have the ability to cause a significant injury or even death. • Electronic control devices (used widely in day-to-day policing across the U.S.) are used to jolt an individual with as much as 50,000 volts of electricity to temporarily immobilize them. Over 1,000 deaths have occurred following the use of electronic control devices since the early 2000s. In 9 of every 10 incidents, the deceased was unarmed. The patrol or SWAT officer must be within 20 feet of the suspect when deploying the device in order to be effective, putting the officer within reach of the assailant. • Pyrotechnic hand-thrown chemical agent munitions are used in crowd control and also used in day-to-day policing to flush out individuals or groups of suspects. They are available with a variety of specifications to produce an air burst or flash distraction, or dispersal of small round projectiles, an oleoresin capsicum (OC) irritant, or a CS or CN gas. Depending on the toxicity of the chemicals dispersed, the area may need to be evacuated for as long as 24 hours. Also, use of pyrotechnic devices increases the risk of an unintentional structure fire or ignition of an individual’s clothing. 64 The BLUES The BLUES 65 64 The BLUES The BLUES 65