Flashlights downsized (by LAPD)

[PhotonBoy]

L. A. Daily News

By James Nash
Staff Writer

"Los Angeles police will stop carrying large flashlights like the one used to strike a suspect in a videotaped arrest in June, Chief William Bratton said Tuesday.

Officers will trade in their foot-long metal flashlights for small rubber-coated models, Bratton told the Police Commission. While the larger metal flashlights can inflict deadly blows, the smaller models are nearly useless as weapons...."

 

[Lurker]

I guess they will have to shoot people more frequently now.

 

[Pellidon]

Yeah we wouldn't want them to damage a flashlight by bopping it over the concrete head of some recalcitrant. So now they have to decide before the SHTF to pull the gun or the nightstick and the mouse light or use the BFL and keep the gun hand open and ready. More decisions to be made in a rapid amount of time plus years of training to overcome.

As I write this I am thinking of a baton with a 5W luxeon in the end and a rechargeable battery pack in the handle with a motion activation switch and a time off delay. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twakfl.gif

 

[BuddTX]

I've never understood this.

So, Police can carry guns, and nightsticks, and handcuffs and batons, but a "big" flashlight is not allowed?

 

[BuddTX]

OH, here's a solution, straight from STARGATE!

Keep your ONLY flashlight mounted on your P90!

 

[gtwace]

I guess they just get carried away hitting people with flashlights till serious injury occurs. Hitting people with flashlight is addictive you know...looks like someone is going to be very sad.

 

[bigcozy]

Ask any cop why they would hit someone with a flashlight and you will get the same answer:

"It looks better in court than hitting them with a nightstick"


Why anyone would be a LA LEO is beyond me, but I admire them. Pretty soon they will just let them carry Nerf products.

 

[BigHonu]

I guess the manufacturer of their retractable batons was feeling left out cause the flashlights were getting alot of press...sorry for the sarcasm....its too early here and I have not had my coffee yet...

 

[Phaserburn]

I wonder if Mag will sue the LAPD for infringing on their fringes.

 

[Lux Luthor]

If not, they could sue the nightstick manufacturers for making them look too much like a m#g 3D.

 

[Rothrandir]

what a pile of goat crap.

idiot idiotness like this angers me greatly.

 

[JOshooter]

I guess they've never heard of the SF E2D. I think an email is in order to the LAPD... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif

 

[DavidH]

I saw the news broadcast on CBS last night, it looked like he had either SureFire G2's or Streamlight Scorpions in front of him.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

Huh!

Here in Houston our newest Police Chief (an out-of-towner because we could NEVER EVER find the right cop from the ranks!) has decided that every officer will be equipped with a Tazer.

Can you possibly figure out why I see this as a bad move?

I'll give y'all a chance before I expound on this.

 

[Unicorn]

Potential for abuse?
but if the Air Taser or one of the ones made by that company, there should be the little ID tags that identify which cartridge was used, registered to the agency.

 

[IlluminatingBikr]

It's kind of a big slap in the face to all of the LAPD officers.

 

[PlayboyJoeShmoe]

My beef with all officers having Tazer...

Some folks just NEED to be shot. And some of them will get tazered instead.

Somewhere between a little and a LOT less chlorine for the gene pool!

And personally, I understand completely why officers are a bit overachieving after a hairy car chase.

 

[Topper]

Hey Playboy I hate to agree on this but some folks do need to git shot a time or two, it can really turn some of them around so they fly straight with a slight limp.
Topper /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Echo63]

ok - the only reason i see for not using a flashlight to hit someone is if it is an expensive custom piece - like a tristarphazer or something - if a light is in your hand then hit them rather than taking the time to draw a baton - i have nearly done it more than once.