Originally Posted by
jnc36rcpd
Absolutely concur regarding the utility of less-lethal options. Quality OC spray is probably the most effective, but comes with exposing other officers and decontaminating the suspect. Of course, one can use gel like my current organization issues which almost certainly won't work. I elieve the first article I read on expandable batons was in "Police Magazine" (which may have been "Police Product News" at that time) which posited that an expandable baton may not be the best, but it was the baton you would have with you.
While the Axon Taser had great initial success, that faded rapidly as it became the first choice, go-to response-to-resistance option for many officers and agencies. The fifty to sixty percent success rate would be higher if it wasn't the first, lat, and only option for some officers. More realistic training would also improve its success, but the expense of training, if terms of cartridges, training or real world) would be prohibitive for many departments. (Of course, any department with an OIS after a failed Taser deployment could offer evidence otherwise.)
I am not one to wax poetically how the old ways were the best ways, but the sap was a weapon that was and should be a highly effective weapon, even in these litigious times. I suspect the problem with the sap is that it seemed "old school" and, more importantly, there were few training programs for it. If agencies issued the thing, provided specifications for it, and made it part of the force option program, I think the sap would be a very successful tool for police today.