New Technologies Demonstrated for Law Enforcement

TECHNOLOGY BEAT New Technologies Demonstrated
for Law Enforcement
National Institute of Justice s National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
P olice officers and other mem- September 1995
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss bers of the criminal justice
community recently gathered s Pepper Spray Launcher/Disperser.
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss at the Montgomery County
s Position-Locating Device.
Police Department Training
s Projectile Launcher With Impact
Center in Rockville, Maryland, to see Velocity Control.

demonstrations of and hear presenta- s Smart Gun.

tions on new less-than-lethal (LTL) tech- Vehicle Pursuit/Interdiction

nologies that may help them perform How to safely apprehend a driver who
refuses to stop when ordered by a law
their jobs in a safer and more efficient enforcement officer and avoid high-speed
chases has been a long-standing problem
manner. in the law enforcement community.

Sponsored by the National Institute of Public concern over pursuit-related inju-
Justice (NIJ), the LTL program presenta- ries and deaths and liability costs to
tion and demonstration was held to pro- municipalities across the country has
vide the law enforcement community resulted in a rethinking of pursuit
with an opportunity to critique and policies. One of law enforcement’s top
evaluate results of the research and priorities is the development of a
development (R&D) efforts funded by technology to assist them in stopping
NIJ, as well as other technologies under fleeing vehicles when a pursuit is
development independently by industry unavoidable. The technology should
and Federal laboratories. minimize the risk of death, injury,
property damage, and agency liability,
Demonstrated Technologies yet provide a high probability of making
an arrest and recovering the vehicle.
The role that technology can play in en- The technologies described below may
hancing officer and public safety is con- offer solutions to this dilemma.
tinuously evolving. The technologies
presented herein are in various stages of Auto Arrestor System
development—some are relatively ma-
ture and need only refinement and com- This technology employs a short pulse
mercialization, while others are still at of electric current to burn out or disrupt
the proof-of-principle stage. critical electronic devices in the ignition
systems of modern automobiles. Once a
The technologies listed below are dis- targeted automobile has driven over the
cussed under two broad categories: activated system and the car’s ignition
vehicle pursuit/interdiction and law system is damaged, the affected vehicle
enforcement-related confrontational can coast to a safe stop, allowing the
scenarios. The first four items fall under driver to maintain control, similar to
vehicle pursuit/interdiction, while the what happens when a car runs out of
remaining seven are discussed under gas. According to the developer, the
confrontational scenarios. damaged part can normally be replaced
at minimal cost, rendering the vehicle
s Auto Arrestor System. fully operational again.

s Check-Point Barrier Strip. Developed inhouse by JAYCOR and
building on previous U.S. Department of
s Fleeing Vehicle Tagging System. Defense research, this prototype tech-
nology could be completed as early as
s Retractable Spiked Barrier Strip.

s Airbag Restraint for Patrol Vehicles.

s Disabling Net and Launcher System.

s Disorienting Pulsed Light.

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fall 1995. For more information, ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss bystanders if it should miss its in- Martin Idaho Technologies, P.O. Box
contact Blair Stewart at JAYCOR, 25 sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssstended target; a radio-frequency 1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415–3805;
North Cascade, Suite 300, Colorado transmitter tag embedded in the 208–526–6870.
Springs, CO 80903; 719–577–9700. projectile; a polymer adhesive
within the projectile to secure the Confrontational
Check-Point Barrier Strip tag to the fleeing vehicle; and a Scenarios
receiver-tracker.
This technology is a light-weight tire Confrontations between law en-
deflator that, when deployed and The Idaho National Engineering forcement officers and criminal
activated remotely prior to being Laboratory (INEL) has conducted a suspects or emotionally disturbed,
driven over, will rapidly deflate the feasibility study of this technology, but often dangerous, subjects are
tires of vehicles, rendering an which is in the concept stage. A not infrequent occurrences, and in
offender’s vehicle incapable of high report was completed in April 1995. large jurisdictions, can be a daily
speed as it begins to accelerate For more information, contact Glenn event. In a confrontational situation,
away from a checkpoint. This tech- Shell at the Idaho National Engineer- the level of technology available to
nology would be particularly useful ing Laboratory, Lockheed Martin the police officer can mean the dif-
in rendering large trucks incapable Idaho Technologies, P.O. Box 1625, ference between life and death. De-
of attaining high speeds in order to Idaho Falls, ID 83415–2805; veloping new and improved tech-
evade border patrol checkpoints. 208–526–4078. nologies for minimizing the risks of
The deflator consists of an array of death and injury that can occur
1/2-inch hardened, hollow steel Retractable Spiked when subjects are confronted has
spikes and support blocks magneti- Barrier Strip been an area of continuing interest
cally retained in a 6-foot deflator as expressed by law enforcement.
bar. When run over, the spikes sepa- Unlike commercially available hollow
rate from the bar and are retained in spiked barrier strips, this prototype Use of the following technologies
the tire, providing an unobstructed technology can be deployed on a may effect a safer and more rapid
air passage for deflation. The defla- roadway with the spikes retracted. resolution to this type of situation.
tors are lightweight, quickly Then, from a safe and strategic loca-
deployable, reusable, and leave no tion, the officer can extend and Airbag Restraint for Patrol
roadway debris after use. retract the spikes to target specific Vehicles
fleeing vehicles. Also, this unobtru-
The Eagle Research Group, Inc., de- sive strip can be placed across the This technology allows the officer to
veloped this tire deflator concept road far in advance of the fleeing deploy a rear seat airbag restraint
inhouse and has a patent pending on vehicle, with passing vehicles incur- system from the front seat of the
the design. Prototype units fabricated ring no damage. Once the fleeing patrol vehicle, preventing individu-
of aluminum and steel were demon- vehicle approaches and the hollow als from continuing violent and
strated to the U.S. Customs Service spikes are extended, puncturing and distracting actions while being
and to the U.S. Immigration and Natu- becoming embedded in the tires, the transported. Deployment is rapid,
ralization Service (INS). Subsequent escape of air is rapid but uniform, so but not explosive, and exerts suffi-
to the demonstrations, Customs pro- that the vehicle can come to a con- cient pressure to safely restrict the
cured 20 deflator bars for testing and trolled stop. The barrier strip, which rear seat occupant(s). This allows
evaluation, and INS funded the devel- is designed to be comparably priced the officer time to safely stop the
opment of a portable tire deflating with current hollow spiked nonre- vehicle and secure backup person-
system for use at border patrol tractable barrier strips, can be placed nel if necessary before subduing the
checkpoints. For more information, safely across several potential path- occupant(s). Operating the device
contact Bert Soleau at Eagle Research ways of a fleeing vehicle. from the front seat, the officer can
Group, Inc., 1110 North Glebe Road, inflate and deflate the bag as de-
Suite 1090, Arlington, VA 22201– The Idaho National Engineering sired. The prototype, a modular
4795; 703–243–9400. Laboratory delivered its prototype design that permits easy removal
of this technology, which was for cleaning and replacement, is
Fleeing Vehicle Tagging funded by NIJ through an inter- being designed for installation in
System agency agreement, to NIJ in March existing vehicles.
1995. Collaborating with NIJ’s Office
Offering an intermediate option of Law Enforcement Technology The Idaho National Engineering
between no pursuit and pursuit, this Commercialization, the Laboratory Laboratory delivered its prototype
proposed technology could be oper- has identified and is pursuing a of this technology, funded by NIJ
ated by a single law enforcement potential industry partnership for through an interagency agreement,
officer from a pursuit vehicle. The commercialization of this technol- to NIJ in March 1995 for field evalu-
fleeing vehicle tagging system con- ogy. For more information, contact ation. The airbag was submitted to
cept would consist of a launcher, a Larry W. Hops at the Idaho National the Naval Air Warfare Center in
projectile that is less than lethal to Engineering Laboratory, Lockheed Pennsylvania for a health and safety

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Inflatable Air Bag ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss vision as well as disorientation
ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss effects on exposed target subjects,
risk assessment to evaluate such equipment, and the canvassing of with no disabling or otherwise
areas as the amount of pressure law enforcement officials to deter- negative effects on law enforce-
exerted on the body and potential mine conditions of use. ment officers. The device employs
suffocation factor. Preliminary re- a pulsed bright white light (strobe).
ports suggest that the airbag poses Currently in the conceptual stage, Officers would wear special gog-
minimal health and safety concerns. the program effort began during gles, time-synchronized to the
A final report of the full assessment spring 1995. For more information, flashes, so that their vision is un-
will be sent to NIJ by end of summer contact Arnis Mangolds at Foster- impaired.
1995. If given a positive evaluation Miller, Inc., 350 Second Avenue,
by the law enforcement community, Waltham, MA 02154; 617–890–3200. A laboratory model of this equip-
multiple units will be fabricated and ment, which incorporates a modi-
field tests will be undertaken. For Disorienting Pulsed Light fied commercial photographic
technical information, contact strobe light and components from a
Donna Marts at the Idaho National This technology, a deployable welder’s goggle, will allow assess-
Engineering Laboratory, Lockheed flashing bright light source, ment of issues such as the required
Martin Idaho Technologies, P.O. Box induces temporary impairment of field of view and extinction ratio for
1625, Idaho Falls, ID 83415–3765; the goggles. If given a positive
208–526–9840. For commercializa- evaluation, a prototype device will
tion information, contact Larry W. be built for further testing and
Hops at INEL at 208–526–6870. evaluation. Similar to current de-
vices, the prototype will be wireless
Disabling Net and Launcher and the strobe unit ruggedized to
System permit throwing into a structure.
For further information, contact Dr.
This technology is designed to pro- Launcher Net Harold Levie at Lawrence Livermore
duce a munition that fits conven- National Laboratory, Mail Stop L–
tional law enforcement weapons 366, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA
systems that expel a nonlethal en- 94551; 510–423–1503.
snarement net for the capture of
attacking or fleeing felons. Projec- Pepper Spray Launcher/
tile-launched nets were originally Disperser
conceived for the military, and the
present program will explore the This technology offers an improved
mechanics of reengineering that but affordable system for the deliv-
system for civilian law enforcement ery and dispersal of a chemical inca-
use. The program will address sev- pacitating agent into a barricaded
eral issues, including the design of a structure, which reduces risk of
Non-Lethal Net Deployment Mecha- overpenetration into adjoining ar-
nism, design of a complete muni- eas. Particular features are the use
tions package to fit law enforcement of oleoresin capsicum (pepper
spray) as the incapacitating agent
rather than tear gas, a launcher that
can deliver the agent in a projectile
from a standoff position, and a pro-
jectile that can penetrate windows
with minimal risk of injury to occu-
pants and efficiently disperse the
agent.

Delta Defense, Inc., with NIJ funds,
has constructed a projectile that is
capable of holding an off-the-shelf
pressurized pepper spray canister
and delivering the projectile
through a barrier constructed in
accordance with NIJ Standard–
0111.00: Barrier-Penetrating Tear
Gas Munitions, and dispersing the
material in an atomized spray. The

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projectile is designed to be deliv- ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
ered from a standard 37 mm sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
launcher. A report and a video of
this technology’s performance are
currently in production. For more
information, contact Dr. Roy Kelly at
Delta Defense, Inc., 1111 Jefferson
Davis Highway, Suite 508, Arlington,
VA 22202; 703–416–4928.

Position-Locating Device

In street encounters, officers need “Smart” Gun ation. For further information, con-
both hands free to handle immedi- tact Dr. Harold Levie at Lawrence
ate situations. Real-time information Projectile Launcher With Livermore National Laboratory, L–
on location and current status is Impact Velocity Control 366, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA
often delayed until the officer neu- 94551; 510–423–1503.
tralizes the encounter. In some in- Less-than-lethal munitions ranging
stances the officer’s radio is lost from tear gas and pepper spray to Smart Gun
during a scuffle, or the officer is blunt trauma projectiles need to be
injured and cannot operate the delivered at a variety of distances The Smart Gun is a firearm that
transmitter. depending on the circumstances of “recognizes” the user and can only
an incident. Unfortunately, if a sub- be fired by an authorized user. The
The Collar Locator/Personal Locator ject is too close to the launcher, the intent of the current project is not
Transmitter (PLT) is designed to be projectile may have the potential of to produce a firearm, but to evalu-
worn around the collar of a police producing lethal injuries and if the ate technologies capable of being
uniform to provide near-field loca- subject is too far away it may be less used in a firearm that can recog-
tion and communication informa- than effective. A laboratory version nize a user, as well as being highly
tion to police vehicles that can then of an impact velocity controlled reliable, safe, and secure, and
be transmitted to a central com- launcher was designed that utilizes meeting stringent law enforcement
mand station. A collar PLT would an active laser range finder to deter- requirements.
always be in the “ON” position when mine the distance between the
the officer leaves his or her cruiser, launcher and its target and adjusts Based on the law enforcement user
providing real-time location and the launch velocity of the projectile communities’ requirements, Sandia
status information to incoming of- so that the impact velocity on the National Laboratories is developing
ficers for backup or assistance. A target is essentially constant, models of smart gun systems,
repeater/recorder could also be independent of range. This same funded by NIJ through an inter-
placed in the patrol car to relay data concept can be used to deliver other agency agreement. Research has
back to the station and also provide ordnance in a more controlled man- been conducted into miniaturized
a record of the encounter. In the ner, such as nets or chemical agents. sensors, ruggedized electromechani-
event of an injury to the officer, the A side benefit of spherical projectiles cal devices, and sophisticated signal
locator would give fellow officers is that aiming is considerably simpli- processing to facilitate the fabrica-
immediate direction to the position fied; the ballistics are such that no tion of a model that maintains the
to provide first aid. allowance for projectile drop need be same look and feel of an actual fire-
made over the span of useful ranges. arm, allowing further meaningful
Designed by the Idaho National Engi- evaluation by law enforcement per-
neering Laboratory (INEL) with NIJ The proof-of-concept launcher sonnel. For more information, con-
funding, this proof-of-principle min- project was funded by NIJ through tact Doug Weiss at Sandia National
iature short-range, one-way voice an interagency agreement and de- Laboratories, P.O. Box 5800, Mail
transmitter and position-locating veloped by the Lawrence Livermore Stop 0537, Albuquerque, NM 87185–
device involved integrating off-the- National Laboratory. Further devel- 0537; 505–845–9134.
shelf hardware to demonstrate sys- opment into a field demonstration
tem function. While functionality has device is currently under consider-
been demonstrated, further work is
required to repackage the system to
an on-body configuration. For more
information, contact Clifton E. Stine
at the Idaho National Engineering
Laboratory, Lockheed Martin Idaho
Technologies, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho
Falls, ID 83415–3765; 208–526–0764.

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Results of Law s Should development/refinement Under NIJ’s charter,
Enforcement Critique of this technology/device be relative to its grants
and Evaluation pursued? program, the Institute
is authorized to:
Attendees at the Less-Than-Lethal s What do you perceive to be the
Technology Program Review and strengths or weaknesses of the s Sponsor R&D to improve and
Technology Demonstrations were technology/device? strengthen the Nation’s
asked to complete a questionnaire system of justice with a
about the technologies presented. The general consensus was that the balanced program of basic
Their insight and candid comments new technology is useful and practi- and applied research.
were helpful as to the actual useful- cal, but further R&D is required to
ness of the new technologies. Ques- make the products viable. The ma- s Evaluate the effectiveness of
tions asked were: jority felt a priority need for such criminal justice and law
products, although they also ex- enforcement programs and
s Would you purchase this device pressed concern about issues of identify those that merit
if it were available? cost and safety. application elsewhere.

s How useful do you find this NIJ is reviewing the results of the s Support technological
device? evaluations to help prioritize fu- advances applicable to
ture R&D efforts. Your comments criminal justice.
s How much would you be willing or responses to the above ques-
to pay for such a device? tions are welcome. Those inter- s Test and demonstrate new
ested in the availability of funding and improved approaches to
s To whom would you make the for R&D may request a copy of the strengthen the justice
device available? NIJ Research Plan. system.

NIJ’s grants program, operated by NIJ’s Office of Science and Technol- s Disseminate information
ogy, has supported research in numerous and diverse issues of im- from research, development,
portance to law enforcement executives, as well as to officers on the demonstrations, and
street. Improving fingerprint and trace evidence identification and evaluations.
the development of DNA standards are some of the more notable. In
the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, a renewed interest in LTL weapons New NIJ Publications
by the criminal justice system led Congress to allocate special fund-
ing to NIJ to begin an R&D program in this area. Available upon request is
NLECTC Bulletin, “Positional
In late 1992 and early 1993, NIJ initiated an expanded program to Asphyxia—Sudden Death,”
investigate all aspects of this issue and to develop a broad-based dated June 1995. Currently in
research program that would lead to new tools and use-of-force op- production is a report on the
tions for law enforcement officers. The program has evolved into one Second Annual Law Enforce-
that looks not only at weapons but at the sociological aspects of the ment Technology for the 21st
use of LTL weapons, e.g., liability and community acceptance issues. Century conference, held in
June 1995 in Washington, D.C.
It has also become clear, however, that technologies other than weap- Please contact NLECTC for avail-
ons may effectively address the same operational goals of reducing ability of these publications.
the incidence of death and injury to officers, suspects (or prisoners),
and the public when force has to be used to effect an arrest or com-
bat violent behavior during transport or other custodial duties.

The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement
#95–IJ–CX–K002 awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice.

The National Institute of Justice is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the
Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Pre-
vention, and Office for Victims of Crime.

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To comment or for further information, please call NIJ’s National Law Enforcement and
Corrections Technology Center at 800–248–2742 or write to Box 1160, Rockville, MD 20849–1160.

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