Assault Lights

[CrunchyBits]

Having seen the manufacturer's claims for Assualt Lights has anyone actually used them in anger as a control/intimidation device and did they work in practise ?

I am a UK LEO I am considering purchasing one but having seen the claims made I am slightly skeptical. I am a Response Officer and therefore primarily interested in their affects on gangbangers, street-stops etc where the LEO retains the strategic and tactical elements of surprise (or being surprised with flashlight in hand)

[Skip]

A bright light can temporarily blind someone, but it can depend on other aspects such as Drugs, alcohol and nervous disposition.

As with all these situations always ensure a back up plan, such as CS, baton or boot.

Which constabulary are you with?

[CrunchyBits]

Metropolitan Police Farce 'G' Division
(The Rough Patch - Hackers)

I presume from some of your other postings Skip that you are SO19 or whatever they call it 'Up North'



[This message has been edited by CrunchyBits (edited 11-27-2000).]

[Skip]

Negative - I'm a partner in a company that develops equipment for the police and military. I take great pride in knowing as much as I can about these subjects.

I was in the British Army for 5 years and gained a lot of experience in security related issues.

[jnc36rcpd]

I have never seen an assault light used or demonstrated (except on an episode of "Soldier of Fortune,Inc.") I imagine they would be effective, but I suspect you might need to carry a second light for everything but "assault" duties. You might pose the question on the Surefire board. Be safe.

[Gunpoint]

And here I thought an Assault Light was a 6-cell Mag carried like a club.

[RECON5]

Thanks 1811

I thought I was the only one there for a minute....almost developed a complex...NOT

[jnc36rcpd]

1811, don't let your superiors hear you say things like that. It might give them the impression that FBI agents are real cops. Wait a second...all the FBI agents I've dealt with were real cops!

A rechargable light makes justas effective an assault light as some big honking six-cell light. Even better, you can easily switch it with some oblivious local cop's flashlight to avoid any embarassment to the G. Be safe.

[Sharky]

I used to have an old Magcharger that every time I threw it at a fleeing perp the end cap would pop off and the battery stick would fall out. God I loved that flashlight.

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F.I.D.O.

[RogueExec]

No doubt, dude! The "yardstick" as it was called on my shift, was very popular as both light and "subduing agent".

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"Don't think of it as theft. Think of it as creative augmentation of your operational capabilities."

[Tracy]

Crunchy:

To answer your question directly: Yes, I've used "Assault Lights" doing forced entries.

We called it a "White-Light" Entry. It has three distinct advantages:

1. It fills the local area with visible light; so the assaulter can pick up visual threat cues. White light operations means faster identification of Shoot/No-Shoot targets.

2. It "backlights" the front sight post; which makes for more precise shot placement. Having a high-contrast (white background, black front sight) can also speed up target engagement. It's important to note that white lights are NOT used as aiming lights, only to better illuminate your aiming system and the target.

3. The light serves as an intimidation and blinding agent. This is more of a side effect than a primary effect. Anything to break the attack process of the enemy is a good thing; and seeing four really bright light come swarming into your room, knowing each one is attached to a rifle, can make you pause. One blast of moderately intense light into the eyes can give the enemy 5-10 seconds of total blindness before the visual purple in the eye recharges sufficiently to restore night vision.

We used the 3-D-Cell flashlights and modified our lower foreguards so we could clamp them on with rubber hose clamps. We liked the Maglights versus other lights for several reasons:

1. They're cheap, extremely rugged, easy to repair and weather proof.

2. D-Cell batteries are cheap and plentiful (at least in the USA!).

3. You can leave a Maglight on indefinitely. SureFire lights can stay on continously for only 10 minutes, then the light housing will melt. The SureFires are VERY intense lights, but the batteries are very expensive. Depending on the mission profile, the assault could take three minutes and the post-assault procedure can take as much 30-45 minutes of wandering in the dark. I want a flashlight that can last the ENTIRE engagement.

4. You can replace the standard light bulb with a Krypton-Xenon or Quartz-Halogen bulb for a brighter light; without fear of a melt down.

5. A Maglight may heavy, but it makes a GREAT muzzle compensator.

Does this help?

[Tracy]

Addendum:

Looking at your post again made me realize I could be missing the mark here...

I also used Maglights as an attitude adjustment wrench. The instrument isn't nearly as intimidating as the Unspoken Force Presence of the Responding Officer.

An officer that looks like an ass-whuppin waiting to happen has less problems than the stereotypical doughnut-munchin' redneck. I've ridden with officers where the perp pimp-slapped the cop, turned to run, saw me, and went back to the cop for his lumps.

I have a 5 D-Cell Maglight, and my wife uses 4 C-Cell Light. Depending on your hand size, use the one that fit best.

ASP Batons has an accessory that puts a SureFire light on the end cap. So you can load the baton up to your shoulder and the light faces the suspect. One shot with the light blinds them, follwed my multiple hits with the other end; while they're blinded.

My apologies for the other post; I had a Senior Moment.

[Skip]

Gotta say it, but do the lights of a squad car count as intimidation? An engine on full rev, lights on full beam???

It could work -

[Tracy]

I won't name names, but there's a South-Central LA PD that practices intimidation by motor vehicle. They even practice in skirmish lines for riot control. Extremely intimidating.

[CrunchyBits]

Thanks for all the replies folks - food for thought therein. Er in the Metropolitan Police, London anything larger in size than a 2 D cell Maglite is a big operational no no - just in case we hurt one of mummy's spoilt little darlings. Think I'll get a big dog instead - it'll be cheaper in the long run