There are many different ways that law enforcement agencies can use the latest technological advances. People who fight crime can use tools that look like they came straight out of James Bond movies. They can also use tools that look like they came from the CSI drama series on TV.
The makers of the newest police gear have announced some surprising new products that are now available, but might still be hard to get. But within a year, these devices should be easy to get, and within a few more, many police departments may even give them out as "standard issue."
Many experienced police officers may wonder what could be new about flashlights that could help them do their jobs better. Well, police now have heavy-duty and tactical flashlights that can do more than just light up a scene or a criminal.
Since LED police flashlights are the tool of choice in many places, some companies have just worked on making them even more reliable and strong than they already are. They dropped the flashlights from 30 feet to see how long they would last, put them in water to see if they would stay waterproof, and timed not only how long they could shine but also how long the batteries would last. There are now dozens of companies that sell police flashlights and give detailed information about them, such as the wattage, lumens, light range, and protection against dangerous conditions.
But, as with any product, the best thing to do is figure out what the local and user needs are and compare them to what is available and what the budget might allow. Some tactical or heavy-duty flashlights cost as little as $40 each, while others can cost as much as $200. This doesn't include battery chargers, holsters, clips for attaching to clothes or duty belts, or extra features that come with the flashlight.
The most important things about police flashlights would be how easy they are to use and how reliable they are, since they have to work all the time in dangerous situations. Some LED models say they can be used for hundreds of hours, have easy-to-use on/off buttons, and can last for almost as long as you want them to.
Even though all LED flashlights give off a steady light that doesn't dim, they can be different sizes and weights. Some officers might like the ones that are lighter, while others might like the ones that are heavier because they can be used as weapons. One department may only want to use high-intensity white LED bulbs, while the police in another city may want to use coloured LED bulbs for night vision, checking blood trails, or signalling.
It's clear that different police departments and even different officers in the same city could face a wide range of dangerous situations. For these, police need special flashlights. Almost every officer would be able to use a flashlight that can shine through smoke and has light beams that can be changed, but the more advanced features might not be used as often.
There is a model that has a pepper-spray canister, a flashlight that can detect metal (by vibrating and flashing a red light when it finds metal), a flashlight that makes patterns that glow in the dark, and even models that have a beacon or strobe light. Also, to make weapons even better, police flashlights now have lasers for aiming, places to mount guns, and even shotguns hidden inside the bodies of the flashlights.
If a police department is thinking about getting a new flashlight, they should take the chance to upgrade. There have never been so many options before.
~Ben Anton, 2008
