Old Dog
Member
Sigh. So this is what we've come to. Guess no one remembers the big MagLites were "cutting edge" at one time. From Yahoo News:
ACLU commends LAPD's decision to use new flashlights
- Thread starter Old Dog
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MudCamper
Member
The media is so clueless. Most cops went to tiny Surefire or Streamlights years ago. It's not about the club factor, it's one less heavy item on your belt.
LawBot5000
Member
I dont see the point of this. What makes police non-dangerous is their training and their restraint. A police officer with a behavior problem is still plenty dangerous without a big flashlight. And it isnt like cops are cripples. They can always beat someone's ass with their bare hands and feet if you take away their maglites.
If anything, it takes away another non-lethal force option from all the good cops who might want to defuse a situation by bonking someone as opposed to shooting them.
I personally approve of heavy mag-lites because it is the one object a cop is almost guaranteed of holding when he walks up to a car at night and he can hold it in a ready-to-strike position without appearing threatening. It provides safety for the officer without the escalation you get from holding something that is obviously a weapon.
If anything, it takes away another non-lethal force option from all the good cops who might want to defuse a situation by bonking someone as opposed to shooting them.
I personally approve of heavy mag-lites because it is the one object a cop is almost guaranteed of holding when he walks up to a car at night and he can hold it in a ready-to-strike position without appearing threatening. It provides safety for the officer without the escalation you get from holding something that is obviously a weapon.
Lone_Gunman
Member
Maybe it is the LAPD that is clueless. Certainly Surefire or Streamlight would make a flashlight that already meets their specifications. Why would they need to commission a company to make a new design?
erik the bold
Member
Three reasons:
1) Pelican is local
2) It's not really a new design, just a new model designator
3) Cost effectiveness
Take a look at their selection. here
The 7060 is here.
Pelican has been making quality lights for many years. I have two I use for diving that I've owned over 12 years and I've used their stuff when I was in the fire department.
I'd buy a Pelican waaaaaaay before I'd dump money on a Surefire or Streamlight. (Ok, flame suit on...
).
waterhouse
Member
Amen. I think even with the Streamlight my belt was weighing in around 16 pounds. Plus the long Mag light makes it sort of hard to run.
DontBurnMyFlag
Member
the ACLU should stick to burning american flags and helping illegal immigrants and stop interfering with the cops equipment. 
Surefire's offerings are all small belt lights or small rechargables that require removing the battery. The Streamlight Stinger and Strion are also quite small, although easier to charge. The Polystinger is a very common "non theatening" flashlight in police use these days. Most departments continue to use Magchargers or Streamlight SL-20X/XP rechargables mounted in the cruiser, in addition to the smaller ones for internmittant use. Not two feet long, but 13" of flashlight will still get your attention.
I agree with you guys, saying the LAPD is too violent so they should give them new flashlights strikes me as looking at it from the wrong angle. Wasn't someone severly beaten by a LEO with a heavy hollow metal clipboard a while back?
I agree with you guys, saying the LAPD is too violent so they should give them new flashlights strikes me as looking at it from the wrong angle. Wasn't someone severly beaten by a LEO with a heavy hollow metal clipboard a while back?
ConstitutionCowboy
member
You see where this is going, don't you? Looks like they want the cops disarmed, too. They must be too close to being "civilians" to be armed.
...As if you couldn't use a ten inch long flashlight as a bludgeon...
The whole idea of the night-stick-length flashlight was to double as a night stick, was it not? At night, it's a tactical advantage. It's already in your hand and not even perceived as a weapon until you need to employ it.
Oh, well. Now they can deploy their guns instead. But then, that's always been my thoughts on the matter. One doesn't usually have time to decide which weapon to deploy, so go for the primary first.
Woody
"I swear to protect the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, but I am not trigger-happy. I am merely prepared and determined in its defense. It's a comfortable place to be. I don't suffer doubt." B.E.Wood
From The Article said:
...As if you couldn't use a ten inch long flashlight as a bludgeon...
The whole idea of the night-stick-length flashlight was to double as a night stick, was it not? At night, it's a tactical advantage. It's already in your hand and not even perceived as a weapon until you need to employ it.
Oh, well. Now they can deploy their guns instead. But then, that's always been my thoughts on the matter. One doesn't usually have time to decide which weapon to deploy, so go for the primary first.
Woody
"I swear to protect the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, but I am not trigger-happy. I am merely prepared and determined in its defense. It's a comfortable place to be. I don't suffer doubt." B.E.Wood
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
A buddy of mine on Dallas PD said they were looking for recruits with at least 44" waists or bigger? Why? Anything smaller means you can't carry all the gear on your belt.
I don't understand people's needs for only using items for how they were intended to be used. Items often do very well in roles other than their original intended uses. The first guns were intended for use as castle siege machines. The first shouldered guns were for frightening horses (Chinese battlefields). Viagra was intended as a heart medication. I wonder how the ACLU would feel about LAPD going with Bat Lights? http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=119422
stevelyn
Member
I have a Streamlight SLX-20 in my patrol vehicle that rarely ever gets used. On my belt I carry a Streamlight TL-2 LED and a Surefire 6Z on my vest. I also have a SL TLR-1 on my shotgun.
I almost always go for the TL-2 when I need a light. I can also effectively use the Streamlight and Surefire as an impact weapon if needed.
Generally, Pelican makes some very good products including the majority of their lights. The exception is their M-6 Black Knight series.
IMOO and the opinions of those who work with me, the M-6 is a POS. The only thing good about it is the body and lamp. The tailcap switch is absolutely worthless and unreliable.
I almost always go for the TL-2 when I need a light. I can also effectively use the Streamlight and Surefire as an impact weapon if needed.
Generally, Pelican makes some very good products including the majority of their lights. The exception is their M-6 Black Knight series.
IMOO and the opinions of those who work with me, the M-6 is a POS. The only thing good about it is the body and lamp. The tailcap switch is absolutely worthless and unreliable.
Geez, that goes under the assumption that officers don't know/won't learn how to effectively use that smaller light as a weapon in the form of a kubaton. I train security personnel in the use of the kubaton. In a 4 hour class, students have already learned that the kubaton can be an extremely devastating device quite capable of inflicting significant injuries without having to swing the kubaton at all...
steve635
Member
Literally Disabling the Police
And it isnt like cops are cripples. They can always beat someone's ass with their bare hands and feet if you take away their maglites.
Shhhhhhhh! Next the ACLU will move to ban Police with hands and feet......and teeth!
And it isnt like cops are cripples. They can always beat someone's ass with their bare hands and feet if you take away their maglites.
Shhhhhhhh! Next the ACLU will move to ban Police with hands and feet......and teeth!
http://www.yawara.com/Yawast1.html
http://www.donrearic.com/yawara.html
Just as an aside, any number of local critters can attest to the fact that Mr. 'Dawg can hurt you just as bad with an iNova X5 as he can with a five cell Maglite.
LawDog
http://www.donrearic.com/yawara.html
Just as an aside, any number of local critters can attest to the fact that Mr. 'Dawg can hurt you just as bad with an iNova X5 as he can with a five cell Maglite.
LawDog
10-Ring
Member
I'm not a Pelican fan -- for that kind of money, I'd go w/ the Streamlight TL-3 and its 200 lumens
I'm a bit leary any time the ACLU is positive about something
I'm a bit leary any time the ACLU is positive about something
kd7nqb
Member
So the only guys I know in the security industry (yes I know we are not cops) that dont realize the wonders of small streamlights or surefires are they same guys who run their radio cords across the front of their shirt like a bandoler, guys that dont know how to get with the times.
Second of all running with a duty belt is a pain in the butt anyway I couldn't imagine having my maglite wack me in the leg with each step.
Now assuming that they want to beat the crap out of somebody ask any cop which they would rather use an ASP baton or a Mag-lite I would bet you 75% go with the light. ASP's are great for some things but they dont deliver the same strike force that a mag will.
Strike force isnt everything but I guess its worth something.
DOES the ACLU have Nothing better to do than comment on LAPD flashlights, shouldn't they be working hard to grab our guns and defend terrorists?
Second of all running with a duty belt is a pain in the butt anyway I couldn't imagine having my maglite wack me in the leg with each step.
Now assuming that they want to beat the crap out of somebody ask any cop which they would rather use an ASP baton or a Mag-lite I would bet you 75% go with the light. ASP's are great for some things but they dont deliver the same strike force that a mag will.
Strike force isnt everything but I guess its worth something.
DOES the ACLU have Nothing better to do than comment on LAPD flashlights, shouldn't they be working hard to grab our guns and defend terrorists?
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