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DEFENSE |
A few of the things that police officers use in order to keep themselves and bystanders protected include pepper spray, bullet proof vests, and "IN/OUT Car Video Cameras". With all of that, police officers also utilize the tools on their belts to help ensure their safety. The things that are attached to their belts include a flashlight, asp, gun, phone, pager, radio, clips (or magazines) for guns, handcuffs, rubber gloves, and mace.
- Pepper Spray - Used to temporarily blind the offender in order to complete tasks and to keep them from being injured by means of physical force. It may also help in case of dogs that are at large who may have the potential of causing serious damage to an officer by biting. The side effects of using pepper spray include difficulty breathing, burning of the eyes, nose, mouth and the throat. After the officers take the ofender to the police station, he is wash out at an "emergency wash station".
- Bullet Proof Vests - Used to protect police officers from either stray gunfire or gunfire that is directed towards them in the heat of a so-called "battle" or "duel". Most bullet proof vests that are worn by officers can protec tthem from a wide array of bullets. From the many different kinds of bullet proof vests police officers wear, there are 6 different threat levels an offcer can choose from. The levels are arranged in thickness and material by a system that includes an alphanumerical rating (numerals are written in Romans). From the least to the most thick are as follows, IA, I, IIA, II, IIIA, III.
- IN/OUT Car Video Camera - Used to record the actions of the criminal and that of a police officer in order to bring justice into the courts with proof via video, to protect the officer in case of a sudden attack, and also to view how the officer reacts to certain situations, and may even (on rare occasions) bring convicting evidence to a police officer who may of overreacted and bludgeoned someone. Take for iosntance the Rodney King incident that happened in Los Angeles in the early 90's. The reasoning behind the beating officers say, was because Mr> King was high on PCP.