Posted on 04/12/2005 10:07:06 PM PDT by SmithL
LOS ANGELES - The city's police commission Tuesday cleared the way for Chief William Bratton to equip officers with lighter flashlights following last year's beating of a suspected car thief.
Lighter flashlights would be "in the best interest of the department, in the best interest of the city," Bratton said.
The civilian panel's vote allowing Bratton to select new flashlights came after Officer John Hatfield pummeled motorist Stanley Miller last June with a standard-issue flashlight. The beating led to widespread objections to using the device as a weapon.
Shortly after, Bratton began reviewing a series of flashlights on the market that would be smaller than the foot-long, 2-pound models now carried by LAPD officers. Among the possibilities is a 7-inch plastic version.
It could cost nearly $500,000 and take between six months to a year to purchase and distribute 9,200 flashlights, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Catherine Plows.
Some commissioners, however, questioned the need for new gear.
"We ought to give our officers an advantage, and that advantage is a piece of equipment they can use to defend themselves," said Alan Skobin, vice president of the police commission.
Bratton responded that a smaller flashlight would make it easier for officers to carry more safety gear. He claimed new flashlights were good for the department, not simply a political response to the Miller incident.
"There was no political pressure brought to bear from anyone in this matter," he said. "The idea for this new flashlight was mine."
Uhhhhh...the flashlight is supposed to act as a weapon in some situations.
Fifty bucks each for lightweight plastic flashlights?
Why not bring in Jocelyn Elders and have her design "safer weapons and safer bullets"..
but not in LA, I guess.
In his classic "Fundamentals of Modern Police Impact Weapons" self-defense expert Massad Ayoob went into detail as to how destructive Mag-lights were when used as bludgeons. Only to be used in such fashion when one is fighting for one's life and then one should be using one's sidearm.
Common sense amidst the idiocy. Chief Bratton apparently thinks he's a kindergarten teacher -- keep all the kids after class for the actions of one bad apple.
Otherwise, you'll leave the criminals feeling light-headed.
But if they're still hard, then the cops can swing em faster and theyll still hurt! =P
The "gun control" mentality at work. Blame the tool.
The problem isn't the tool, it's the tool wielder.
Do they still have nightsticks, or are those nerf'd too?
Massad Ayoob bump.
And hire Axel Foley as lead detective.
I thought that's what those Mag Lite's are for. I thought that's why the nice round lens holder was machined that way so it fits perfectly into the palm of your hand a certain way so you don't drop it when you hit somebody. That's why I carried one in my car.
That's why bouncers in clubs carry Mag Lites. It's a "flashlight" in case of a "power failure" that you can also use as a nice solid club.
What's wrong with that? Maybe they should issue the LAPD little pink sissy girly flashlights. The criminals and gang members would love it.
Good point. A slew of cops (and my friend at 911) all told me the same thing: if you have to draw your gun, *never shoot to wound*. "You were in fear of your life and you fired." They were adamant about that, too.
(As you might guess, I have a lot of cop friends. Even my cousin is one).
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