Issue link: http://trmagonline.epubxp.com/i/117780
UP CLOSE Less-Lethal Options I Flash-Bang Options & Procedures ther per se objectively reasonable nor unreasonable. Te reasonableness of its use depends on the facts and circumstances of each case.��� In Boyd v. Benton County, City of Corvallis et al (2004), the United States Court of Appeal for the 9th Circuit held that the use of a fash-bang while executing a warrant may constitute excessive force under the 4th Amendment. Te Court stated ���...given the inherently dangerous nature of the fash-bang device, it cannot be a reasonable use of force under the Fourth Amendment to throw it ���blind��� into a room occupied by innocent bystanders absent a strong governmental interest, careful consideration of alternatives, and appropriate measures to reduce the risk of injury.��� A sound legally defensible policy and proper training are keys to the safe and efective employment of fash-bangs. Most of the injuries that occur are the direct result of operator error. Operator error can almost always be linked to a failure in training. Training not only saves lives, it���s your frst line of defense in court. A municipality may be held liable for a violation of rights that results from a failure to adequately train its employees if that failure represents a deliberate indiference on the part of the municipal policy. In City of Canton, Ohio v. Harris (1989), the United States Supreme Court stated, ���Failure to train may be fairly said to represent a policy for which a municipality is responsible and for which it may be held liable where injury results, if in light of the duties assigned to specifc ofcers, the need for more or diferent training is so obvious, and the inadequacy so likely to result in the violation of constitutional rights, that the municipality can reasonably said to have been deliberatively indiferent.��� In Zuchel v. City of Denver (1993), in which the United States Court of Appeal for the 10th Circuit afrmed a jury verdict against the Denver Police for inadequate deadly force training, the issue wasn���t the amount of training, but on the type of training. Te plaintif alleged the lack of a meaningful ���shoot���don���t shoot��� training constituted a deliberate indiference to a known risk. Reality-Based Training ���Train as you fght; fght as you train��� is 38 Tactical Response Mar-Apr 2013 the mantra of U.S. military training today. It should be the mantra for law enforcement training, as well. Although there isn���t anything that compares to reality, the goal in training must be at least realistic simulation. For training to be meaningful, it must be as close to reality as possible, i.e., reality-based training. In the past, options were limited when it came to fash-bang training. Operational fash-bangs are expensive and impose restrictions on the training environment. Tis led to many agencies employing expended fash-bangs that were painted or taped blue for recognition during training. Responding to the needs of tactical teams, manufacturers have developed training devices to realistically simulate the characteristics of operational fash-bangs. Tese fash-bang training devices fall into three categories��� inert, pyrotechnic and non-pyrotechnic. Tey replicate to varying degrees the handling characteristics of operational fash-bangs without the cost, blast and regulatory requirements. Inert Bangs In the inert category, Ring���s Manufacturing, originator of BLUEGUNS�� frearms simulators, makes two BLUEGUNS fash- p NLTM Thumper TG6 Training Grenade non-pyro training fash-bang. Photo courtesy of NLTM. bang simulators���the FSFBTS (a detailed replica of the CTS 7290) and the FSFBT (a detailed replica of the Defense Technology No. 25). Ring���s also makes the FSBBG Base Ball Grenade that replicates the military M67 fragmentation grenade. Ring���s BLUEGUNS products are made with strong, impact-resistant polyurethane with metal reinforcement. Te fash-bang simulators are inexpensive and last practically forever. They have a functioning pull pin, but obviously lack any ���bang.��� Ring���s BLUEGUNS products are made in the USA. Pyro Bangs t Ring���s FSBCTS is an inert, detailed replica of the CTS 7290 Flash-Bang. Photo courtesy of Ring���s Manufacturing. Pyrotechnic fash-bang training devices fall into two categories���traditional fuzed and blank-fring impact grenade (BFIG). Te BFIG is a relatively recent innovation, but generally available only in Europe. Tese contain a mechanism that���s designed to fre a blank handgun cartridge when the device is deployed from a height of about 1 meter onto a hard surface. Most pyrotechnic training fash-bangs are of the fuzed variety. Fuzed training fashbangs typically employ a special M201A1 fuze that produces between120-130 dB report at 5 feet. Te training fuzes are roughly half the cost of operational fash-bangs, typically running around $15.00. Te bodies may be used an unlimited number of times; the only recurring costs are for the training fuzes. Some widely used fuzed training fashbangs are the ALS-AMTECH Less-Lethal