The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is designating US$1 million in grant money for a California based high tech firm to develop a new incapacitating weapon for law enforcement agencies. Intelligent Optical Systems, a company that specializes in optical science to produce security devices, will attempt to develop its LED (light emitting diode) Incapacitator into a hand held flashlight. The device produces intense alternating flashes of bright lights that, if one looks directly into the light, can cause temporary blindness and physical effects from vertigo to nausea. Backing the development of the LED Incapacitator, DHS plans to distribute the device to law enforcement agencies to combat potential criminals, and unruly crowds.
A Powerful Beam of Light
Although the LED Incapacitator will look like a normal flashlight, the device operates with a much more powerful beam of light. The device utilizes light emitting diode technology, a process that projects ultra bright rapid light pulses with randomly changing colors. In addition, the device uses an imbedded range finder to avoid the infliction of permanent visual damage. The range finder accurately adjusts the power of the beam according to the distance to the individual’s eyes.
After looking directly into the light, the rapid, alternating light pulses disorient the individual. First, the beam of light will temporarily blind the person. Secondly, the alternating wavelengths and frequencies disrupts the person’s ability to adjust and in effect, can cause physical disorientations such as vertigo and immediate nausea. According to researchers at Intelligent Optical Systems, the physical effects wear off in a matter of minutes. Although the effects vary from person to person, developers are well aware that alternating pulses of light can severely affect a person’s equilibrium and cause disorientation. For example, the US military has documented incidents where rapid pulses of sunlight, traveling through a helicopter’s spinning blades, have caused helicopter pilots to feel disoriented, which have then lead to crashes.
DHS officials are hoping the device could give law enforcement a non-lethal weapon that could aid in a situation where a police baton, pepper spray or taser guns are out of range. Developers at Intelligent Optical Systems claim that the LED Incapacitator could be used effectively up to 30 feet away from an individual, potentially keeping law enforcement at a safe distance. As the beam disorients the person, security personnel could quickly close in on the suspect.
Potential Concerns
Upon the release of the LED Incapacitator, numerous drawbacks could occur.
• Provided the device is fairly inexpensive and produced on a large scale, there exists the chance the device could make its way onto the black market. This situation could be disastrous in the event terrorists or criminals were able to use the device on an unsuspecting public and in particular on law enforcement personnel, who might become incapacitated and unable to secure their weapons.
• The use of the device depends on the suspects’ willingness to look directly into the light. This is not likely to occur in every hostile situation. Suspects could look away and even wear heavily tinted glasses that could reduce or eliminate the effects. Additionally, the beam of light is more effective at night, rendering the device as a potential nuisance to carry during the day.
• As DHS announced intentions to provide the device to US Border Patrol personnel, using the Incapacitator on the US and Mexico border has caused concern for human rights and immigration groups.
• Although researchers claim the physical effects are only temporary, it remains to be seen if potential long-term physical effects exist.
No Need to Rush
Currently, DHS claims National Guard and US Border Patrol Agents could be equipped with the device by the year 2010. However, researchers at Intelligent Optical Systems are working on reducing the flashlight’s size from 15 inches long and 4 inches wide. In addition, researchers are going to conduct further testing on human volunteers at the Penn State University Institute of Non-Lethal Defense Technology this upcoming fall.
As researchers prepare to implement the final adjustments, it is crucial that the downfalls are thoroughly assessed for solutions. Although the device could aid law enforcement personnel in some incidents, the current, existing drawbacks seem to outweigh the potential benefits for law enforcement.
