Apparently the LA police department thinks its officers can’t withstand the tempation to hit people with flashlights. The solution? Equip cops with a flashlight that won’t hurt as much when used as a blunt instrument.
“If you shine this into someone’s eyes, you will momentarily disorient them. But unlike the previous flashlight it cannot be used to inflict unintended damage or used to strike someone around the head,” Said LAPD chief William Bratton.
Despite the fact that the new light is 50% lighter than the old one and has a “rugged polymer casing,” Chief Bratton did NOT volunteer to be beaten with it.
Silly me, I would have thought better training and supervision would be the solution. Stupid civilian.
BTW, should you too want a flashlight which will be ineffective when used to beat someone around the head, the Pelican 7060 will go on sale to the public in June.
Collateral Damage 
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MSRP for one of these is $199.00….No mention of the polymer body is made on the specs page; aluminum cooling fins are pointed out on the image page… and the photo of it from the Pelican website shows a unit with a lot of sharp corners. Exactly what I don’t want to be hit with.
How many usages of flashlights were found to be unjustified poor uses of force as opposed to incidents where the LAPD found it bad PR trying to explain the use of a flashlight as a less-than lethal weapon? Most Police Dept’s Policies and Procedures discourage the use of flashlights as striking weapons. Most Officers agree that the flashlight is not the best tool for an impact device.
When the Officer doesn’t have time to change what is in their hand they use what they have in their hands, be it a flashlight or a ticket book.
Look at each incident. Find out what the training is. Stand there in the dark.
What you are all missing is that this light is a LAPD specified light. It was built expressly for them to their specifications in Torrance, CA not China!. They determined that they needed a smaller light. If any of you follow the news, you would know how this came about. But your constant bantering and blissful ignorance, it shows everyone that your utterly clueless.
Who you can thank for the price tag is ambulance chasing lawyers that you all know and love. Do you realize that Stanley Miller, who was beaten with a flashlight 11 times on televised TV, got paid a $454,000 cash settlement from the city?
Who is friggen drinkin’ buddies now!
Here’s a convicted felon getting a cash settlement. Who the hell is crazy? We all are for allowing laws that graciate criminals!
By the way, this flashlight was a great price deal to the city. Its awesome in terms of performance and again in meeting the spec’s of the dept.!
I’ll keep my Mag Lite by the bed, thankyouverymuch. I bought it specifically because it doubles as a weapon.
Two quotes:
1) “your constant bantering and blissful ignorance, it shows everyone that your utterly clueless.” never mind the typos, the fact that you expected anything but clueless and blisfully ignorant banter shows that you’re new around here.
2) “We all are for allowing laws that graciate criminals!” Graciate is a perfectly cromulent word. It embiggens the soul.
And Lesley — two mag lites in the bedroom. same reason.
I don’t know why, but I always thought the mag lites were sex toys masquerading as flash lights. Go figure.
Saratogaway, much of the LAPD light is in fact made in China, final assembly is done here, but the remaining is quite non-labor intensive and very quick. But the entire light is scheduled be done over in China after the first 10k or so. Of course, they could still put it in the box here, and then claim Made in USA…
Components in the electronics are not made in USA either, just a fyi.
Also, if you follow the mess, you’d realize the media only showed you snippets cut out of the whole thing, if you watch the full video, I was utterly amazed the cops retained as much control as they did!
“Also, if you follow the mess, you’d realize the media only showed you snippets cut out of the whole thing, if you watch the full video, I was utterly amazed the cops retained as much control as they did!”
THANKS!!! I needed a good laugh this morning!
actually Tom is wrong. Pelican is a fully made in america kind of company. everything is developed, manufactured and assembled on site at their location in Torrance. a rarity these days, i know, so it can be hard to believe but is very true.
go tour their headquaters in Torrance to see for yourself.
Tom is wrong? After what he said about the cops and their self restraint I find that very hard to believe.
Its about time LAPD got rid of that ‘Flashlight’ used mostly as a weapon. They already have a baton, gun and taser, why need more? Is there a war against citizens in CA? I have heard it is so.