In order to switch to less lethal weapons, agents will use rubber projectiles.

“These less lethal weapons will be marked with orange butts for quick and easy identification,” Giddeons said. “They will also be fitted with rubber projectiles intended to take down individuals with less risk of injury when other de-escalation tactics have failed.”

The type of ammunition that will be used is less likely to cause death, but as with any weapon, there is always a risk that will be covered in the training officers will take to prepare for the change.

“At a distance of 15 meters and more, it is unlikely to cause lethal force,” Giddeons said, explaining that it could “if it hits a weak point,” like the face. “At a very short distance, like a few yards away, there will be enough speed behind him to cause lethal force, so our guys will be trained on how to use them and the distances you would encounter something. “

Rubber bullets are intended to neutralize an attacker and encourage the person to give up without having to resort to other methods.

“It’s just a dense rubber ball,” Giddeons said. “There’s no pepper or anything in it.”

One of the great advantages of using less lethal shotguns is that this weapon can reach farther than a Taser. “A taser is limited by the cords attached to the pins” which measures approximately 25 feet depending on the type used.

“You can really go beyond 50 feet with these guns,” Giddeons said. “We’re getting a lot more distance than you’d get with the taser. “

Giddeons gave an example of a scenario in which all attempts to de-escalate a threat by an individual armed with a machete could be stopped at a safe distance without having to resort to lethal force.

“I don’t need to go near him with that machete,” Giddeons said. “I also don’t need to use a lethal force option if this less lethal rubber cartridge works.”

When it comes to efficiency, less lethal shotguns are not 100% effective, just as tasers are not 100% effective. The individual could have a very high tolerance for pain, or under the influence of alcohol or another substance, Giddeons said. “It may not be effective for various reasons. “

Agents will be able to react according to the situation they encounter, less lethal weapons are a tool they will have access to for situations that can be defused without risking anyone’s life. If officers are faced with life-threatening situations, such as an active shooter scenario, they will respond according to established protocols.

“If I come in and (the criminal) has a gun, I’m going to have a gun,” Giddeons said. “I want to draw my gun in an active shooter situation. An active shooter situation is something we take very seriously, and we would approach this with our best intentions to stop their use of lethal force – because active shooter means they are actively using lethal force, so we would address this individual much more seriously. In other words, we would have weapons to deal with an active shooter. This is another type of training that we do.

“We are putting a lot of effort into trying to contain and control these volatile and violent situations. The best possible with the best result for everyone. Including the bad guy. You know, even if he decided to use lethal force.

Their main goal is to defuse situations without anyone getting hurt.

we are bound by “the officer made the wrong choice,” Giddeons said. “Officers have very limited choices” depending on the behavior and choices of the abuser.

“So clearly, we arrive on the scene and we respond to the choices (of the person) if the suspect or the individual in question does, he puts the knife down and, end of story. We are all coming home.

If he doesn’t and he intends to hurt himself, someone else or the agent, then we want to be able to stop this.

In the past, I was here with a shotgun loaded with buckshot and (if) he walks up to me, runs into me with that knife. What’s going to happen? The likelihood that he will survive this is low.

“Now at some point, and that’s where we’ll tackle that in training with our guys. But let’s say we hire this guy with this shotgun and those rubber cartridges don’t work and he comes close to me. And the closer he gets to me with anything, let’s say he has a knife. The closer he gets, the more effective he can be against me with that knife, right? So at some point I have to make a decision. It is now a meeting of lethal force. I can’t stop it with less lethal force, I have no choice. I must use deadly force to defend my life. It’s the last resort, but it’s a resort.

“I would never ask an officer to go out there and not defend his own life or that of his fellow officers,” Giddeons said. The typical response to this would be a two agent response. What you would expect to see is two officers would react to a situation like this and you would have a guy on the shotgun and a guy with his gun drawn, so you have lethal force cover and less lethal coverage.

“This is how we train. We practiced doing the same with the Taser and other things. That way, if he rushes in, then a guy already has the lethal force weapon. He has already taken out the pistol or any other weapon and can thus protect their lives. “

The capsule is marked inside in a bright orange which is intended to help officers identify their less lethal ammunition before using it.

“Every officer in the Warsaw Police Department will participate in training on the safe and proper use of these weapons and they will be deployed inside police vehicles over the coming months,” Giddeons said. “We hope people will see that by switching from a lethal force weapon to a less lethal weapon, our department is taking concrete action to protect lives.”