Proceedings Volume 2934

Security Systems and Nonlethal Technologies for Law Enforcement

John B. Alexander, John B. Alexander, Debra D. Spencer, et al.
cover
Proceedings Volume 2934

Security Systems and Nonlethal Technologies for Law Enforcement

John B. Alexander, John B. Alexander, Debra D. Spencer, et al.
View the digital version of this volume at SPIE Digital Libarary.

Volume Details

Date Published: 29 January 1997
Contents: 8 Sessions, 23 Papers, 0 Presentations
Conference: Enabling Technologies for Law Enforcement and Security 1996
Volume Number: 2934

Table of Contents

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Table of Contents

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  • Street Confrontation
  • Fleeing Felons
  • Hostage/Barricade
  • Incarceration/Response Equipment Technology
  • Security Systems for Correctional Facilities
  • Technology for Transportation Safety and Security
  • School Security and Security Analysis
  • Security System Technologies
Street Confrontation
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Nonlethal laser baton
Jay D. Kehoe, Richard J. Nelson
As the roll of the military changes, from the 'cold war' to 'peacekeeping,' the weapons need to change to meet the objective of the mission. Non-lethal devices should subdue or temporarily immobilize the subject, therefore reducing the probability of an increase in hostilities. The 'non- lethal laser baton' is a 'distraction and/or disorientation' device that can be effective in both 'individual and crown control'. The ability to use other methods to disorient and confuse the opposition, without causing injury, is invaluable. Use of the non-lethal laser baton by civilian law enforcement, will allow for the subduing of suspects without the use of conventional firearms. The family of laser batons will be beneficial to other government agencies, in areas such as drug enforcement, border control and humanitarian missions.
Sticky shocker
Edward Vasel, John Bryars, Peter G. Coakley, et al.
A nonlethal method is being developed to extend the range for effectively electrically stunning a person. Present technology, consisting of stun guns and tasers, is limited to distances of < 2 or 3 m. This new concept involves firing a blunt projectile at an individual, which will stick to his clothing with a glue-like substance or with short clothing attachment barbs. The projectile contains a battery pack and associated electronics that will impart a short burst of high-voltage pulses. Pulse amplitudes are near 50 kV with pulse widths of a few micro-seconds and a repetition rate between 10 and 15 pulses per second. The pulse characteristics are similar to well-established electrical shock devices. The pulses will not be lethal, but will disable or cause enough discomfort to the individual to distract him. A compressed gas-charged launch system has been fabricated and tested, and projectile designs compatible with conventional nonlethal weapon launchers are being developed. The projectile is accurate at 10 m and limited tests indicate that it is accurate out to 30 m as well. The presentation will discuss electric shock voltage characterization, projectile configuration, and limited prototype field demonstration test data recorded on instrumented targets.
Violence reduction and assailant control with integral laser-sighted police pistols
Will Houde-Walter
Laser sighting systems have been proven effective in reducing violence during tactical police operations. the laser sight plays two roles, one as an extremely intimidating pointer that informs the assailant of potential bullet placement and the other as a low light sighting device to increase the probability of hitting the target. Laser sighting gives the officer an additional alternative to lethal force. The statistical base of police data from laser assisted confrontations indicates that the assailant will capitulate, even when heavily armed, in the vast majority of cases. In this paper, we will introduce a new police technology; micro-visible diode lasers for semi- automatic piston recoil spring guide mounting of laser sights. This approach provides many advantages as the laser is concealed and protected by the pistol frame and the point of aim is aligned at the same mounting locations as the barrel. The laser can be field issues and installed or removed from the pistol in a minute with no permanent modification to the pistol.
Definition of lethality thresholds for KE less-lethal projectiles
Jaime H. Cuadros
The interest in the definition and application of the lethality threshold for KE less-lethal projectiles has increased in the last few years, as the demand for proper use of these weapons has increased from the public at large and the law enforcement community. Experiments have been performed and reported utilizing commercially available projectiles in 12 ga., 37 mm against an anthropomorphic dummy and damage criteria developed by the automobile industry. The utility of the method is discussed and future trends are presented.
Reducing violence: an analytical and technical approach
Rick Smith
Social violence is a problem which consistently ranks in the top concerns of American citizens and public policy-makers. However, the discourse on the subject is frequency dominated by emotion and pre-conceived notions of 'right' and 'wrong'. In this paper, a model is synthesized which seeks to create a framework by which policy and technology proposals can be evaluated with an ends oriented perspective. In short, if social violence is considered a disease, an understanding of the impact of the disease is necessary before curative measures can be effectively formulated. The second half of this paper focuses on practical application of this theory. The structure developed begs for bold social experimentation, one example of which AIR TASER, Incorporated is implementing in a strategy to provide private sector initiatives to augment governmental policies in attacking this social cancer. The purpose for this publication is to provide a framework which we have found helpful in guiding ethical and technological decisions in the hope that other private sector initiative scan use the same framework as a benchmark for products developed in this arena.
Less-lethal munitions as extended-range impact weapons
Ken Hubbs
With the proliferation of 'suicide by cop' incidents, the concept of less lethal (LL) impact munitions has definitely caught on. There is much to be said for sterile laboratory testing and wound ballistic studies, but having 'real world' operational data is invaluable. Two years ago, a data base was set up to collect this information. The data base continues to grow with incidents from a cross the country and others pursued internationally. Indications are that LL munitions deliver a similar amount of force as conventional police impact weapons i.e., police batons, PR-24's, nunchakus, etc. One advantage over conventional impact weapons, is that LL munitions can be used at much greater distances from a suspect or crown of rioters. This gave rise to the term: extended range impact weapons. Having the ability to examine numerous cases in which these LL munitions have been successfully used for the resolution of critical incidents, is beneficial in evaluating the application and defending the usage of these force options. This paper examines 187 less lethal shootings and discusses such things as: the distance the munitions were fired, the types of injuries sustained by the targeted suspect, the body area of impact, what, if any weapons the suspect was armed with, and the type of incident requiring police response.
Fleeing Felons
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Automatic license plate reader: a solution to avoiding vehicle pursuit
Stanley K. Jordan
The Massachusetts Governor's Auto Theft Strike Force has tested an automatic license plate reader (LPR) to recover stolen cars and catch car thieves, without vehicle pursuit. Experiments were conducted at the Sumner Tunnel in Boston, and proved the feasibility of a LPR for identifying stolen cars instantly. The same technology can be applied to other law-enforcement objectives.
Pursuit profiles: does the technology fit?
John C. Keller
A plea is made for better communication among law enforcement, researchers, and engineers to develop useful technology for terminating high-speed pursuits. An overall strategy is presented for developing profiles of typical pursuits. Notable 1995 study data is summarized for 195 pursuits by the California Highway Patrol in the Fresno and Stockton areas of California. Various pursuit characteristics are identified that could be useful in the conceptualization and development of pursuit termination technology. These include the short duration, high speed, and voluntary end of many pursuits, the substantial role of stolen vehicles, a distinctive time period for pursuits, and the limited availability of aerial support. There are few reports on this topic and many research opportunities.
Patrol car and agent tracking/suspect tagging and tracking
Steven C. Wilkins
Emerging technologies in the field of law enforcement are providing today's law enforcement personnel with the advantage of an innovative and faster means of providing safety and service to the public. The use of open such technology, the Automatic Vehicle Locator (AVL) tracking device, is fast becoming a commonplace and cost-effective solution for agencies to efficiently command and control their 'officer' assets. Through the use of AVL's global positioning satellite-based system, the response time of law enforcement is greatly enhanced by permitting a dispatcher to visually identify and assign the officer closest to the location of an accident or incident. The system is effective in reducing delays due to highway blockages, improving the level of protection to the motoring public, and promoting the flow of traffic on busy freeways. Likewise, an officer or agent in distress can be assured that a dispatcher will be constantly aware of his or her location in the field. In the 1990's the demands on law enforcement agencies have grown tremendously. this is due primarily to population increases, limited funding or resources, and increases in drug, property and violent crimes. Frequently, the automobile is used for escape after the commission of these crimes. This often results in high speed pursuits involving law enforcement agencies. In California, by statute, the California Highway Patrol is the central repository for data regarding all pursuits involving state and local law enforcement agencies. Statistics show that more than 10 percent of pursuits result in injuries to the violator and/or innocent bystanders. Most pursuits last less than 10 minutes, and the AVL system provides a tremendous advantage to law enforcement's ability to immediately deploy and direct units into pursuits for rapid closure of the incident. AVL systems not only reduce the risk of personal injury by minimizing public exposure to the unsafe incident, but also enhance officer safety during the high speed chase by pinpointing officer deployment. Officer safety is a primary concern for all law enforcement agencies, nationwide. In addition to the aforementioned benefits of AVL, this system ensures that dispatchers are continually aware of an officer's location. This is a critical feature for an officer who is unable to verbally provide his/her location over the radio due to adversarial or injury circumstances. AVL technology is neither rate nor risky, and it is fast becoming an accepted and cost-effective solution in law enforcement agencies, large and small. The challenge to industry is not merely the development of new AVL technology, but also the ease in which it will integrate with existing law enforcement systems.
Hostage/Barricade
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Tactical deployments of laser systems into low-intensity conflicts
With the advancements in laser diode technology over the past three years laser systems are becoming smaller, more efficient, dependable, and inexpensive. They have proven field utility as illuminators, designators, rangefinders, and communicators. With the shifting roles of the military, new applications of lasers are being realized. Lasers are being used as non-lethal force multipliers in operations such as UNITED SHIELD. Future implementations of lasers in non-lethal roles may be seen in Bosnia.
Pepper spray projectile/disperser for countering hostage and barricade situations
Roy Kelly
An improved less-than-lethal projectile for use in hostage, barricade and tactical assault situations has been developed. The projectile is launched from a standoff position and disperse the incapacitating agent oleoresin capsicum in the form of atomized droplets. A literature search followed by an experimental study were conducted of the mechanism of barrier defeat for various shaped projectiles against the targets of interest in this work: window glass, plasterboard and plywood. Some of the trade- offs between velocity, standoff, projectile shape and size, penetration, and residual energy were quantified. Analysis of the ballistic trajectory and recoil, together with calculations of he amount of pepper spray needed to incapacitate the occupants of a typical barricaded structure, indicated the suitability of using a fin stabilized projectile fired from a conventional 37 mm riot control gas gun. Two projectile designs were considered, manufactured and tested. The results of static tests to simulate target impact, together with live firing trials against a variety of targets, showed that rear ejection of the atomized spray was more reproducible and effective than nose ejection. The performance characteristics of the finalized design were investigated in trials using the standard barrier for testing barrier penetrating tear gas agents as defined by the National Institute of Justice.
Incarceration/Response Equipment Technology
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Aqueous foam as a less-than-lethal technology for prison applications
Tommy D. Goolsby
High expansion aqueous foam is an aggregation of bubbles that has the appearance of soap suds and is used to isolate individuals both visually and acoustically. It was developed in the 1920's in England to fight coal mine fires and has been widely used since for fire fighting and dust suppression. It was developed at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in the 1970's for nuclear safeguards and security applications. In late 1994, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research arm of the Department of Justice, began a project with SNL to determine the applicability of high expansion aqueous foam for correctional applications. NIJ funded the project as part of its search for new and better less-than-lethal weapons for responding to violent and dangerous individuals, where other means of force could lead to serious injuries. The phase one objectives of the project were to select a low-to-no toxicity foam concentrate with physical characteristics suited for use in a single cell or large prison disturbances, and to determine if the selected foam concentrate could serve as a carrier for Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) irritant. The phase two objective were to conduct an extensive toxicology review of the selected foam concentrate and OC irritant, and to conduct respiration simulation experiments in the selected high expansion aqueous foam. The phase three objectives were to build a prototype individual cell aqueous foam system and to study the feasibility of aqueous foams for large prison facility disturbances. The phase four and five objectives were to use the prototype system to do large scale foam physical characteristics testing of the selected foam concentrate, and to have the prototype single cell system further evaluated by correctional representatives. Prison rather than street scenarios were evaluated as the first and most likely place for using the aqueous foam since prisons have recurrent incidents where officers and inmates might be seriously injured during violent confrontations. The very low density of the high expansion foam also makes it more suitable for indoor use. This paper summarizes the results of the project.
Sticky foam as a less-than-lethal technology
Steven H. Scott
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in 1994 completed a project funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to determine the applicability of sticky foam for correctional applications. Sticky foam is an extremely tacky, tenacious material used to block, entangle, and impair individuals. The NIJ project developed a gun capable of firing multiple shots of sticky foam, tested the gun and sticky foam effectiveness on SNL volunteers acting out prison and law enforcement scenarios, and had the gun and sticky foam evaluated by correctional representatives. Based on the NIJ project work, SNL supported the Marine Corps Mission, Operation United Shield, with sticky foam guns and supporting equipment to assist in the withdrawal of UN Peacekeepers from Somalia. Prior to the loan of the waste disposal, use limitations, use protocol and precautions, emergency facial clean-up, skin clean-up, gun filling, targeting and firing, and gun cleaning. The Marine Corps successfully used the sticky foam guns as part of that operation. This paper describes these recent developments of sticky foam for non-lethal uses and some of the lessons learned from scenario and application testing.
Foams for barriers and nonlethal weapons
Peter B. Rand
Our times demand better solutions to conflict resolution than simply shooting someone. Because of this, police and military interest in non-lethal concepts is high. Already in use are pepper sprays, bean-bag guns, flash-bang grenades, and rubber bullets. At Sandia we got a head start on non- lethal weapon concepts. Protection of nuclear materials required systems that went way beyond the traditional back vault. Dispensable deterrents were used to allow a graduated response to a threat. Sticky foams and stabilized aqueous foams were developed to provide access delay. Foams won out for security systems simply because you could get a large volume from a small container. For polymeric foams the expansion ratio is thirty to fifty to one. In aqueous foams expansion ratios of one thousand to ne are easily obtained. Recent development work on sticky foams has included a changeover to environmentally friendly solvents, foams with very low toxicity, and the development of non-flammable silicone resin based foams. High expansion aqueous foams are useful visual and aural obscurants. Our recent aqueous foam development has concentrated on using very low toxicity foaming agents combined with oleoresin capsicum irritant to provide a safe but highly irritating foam.
Security Systems for Correctional Facilities
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Security systems engineering overview
Basil J. Steele
Crime prevention is on the minds of most people today. The concern for public safety and the theft of valuable assets are being discussed at all levels of government and throughout the public sector. There is a growing demand for security systems that can adequately safeguard people and valuable assets against the sophistication of those criminals or adversaries who pose a threat. The crime in this country has been estimated at 70 billion dollars in direct costs and up to 300 billion dollars in indirect costs. Health insurance fraud alone is estimated to cost American businesses 100 billion dollars. Theft, warranty fraud, and counterfeiting of computer hardware totaled 3 billion dollars in 1994. A threat analysis is a prerequisite to any security system design to assess the vulnerabilities with respect to the anticipated threat. Having established a comprehensive definition of the threat, crime prevention, detection, and threat assessment technologies can be used to address these criminal activities. This talk will outline the process used to design a security system regardless of the level of security. This methodology has been applied to many applications including: government high security facilities; residential and commercial intrusion detection and assessment; anti-counterfeiting/fraud detection technologies; industrial espionage detection and prevention; security barrier technology.
Perimeter security for Minnesota correctional facilities
David Crist, Debra D. Spencer
For the past few years, the Minnesota Department of Corrections, assisted by Sandia National Laboratories, has developed a set of standards for perimeter security at medium, close, and maximum custody correctional facilities in the state. During this process, the threat to perimeter security was examined and concepts about correctional perimeter security were developed. This presentation and paper will review the outcomes of this effort, some of the lessons learned, and the concepts developed during this process and in the course of working with architects, engineers and construction firms as the state upgraded perimeter security at some facilities and planned new construction at other facilities.
Technology for Transportation Safety and Security
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Screening sealed bottles for liquid explosives
Sankaran Kumar, W. Casey McMichael, Y.-W. Kim, et al.
A particularly disturbing development affecting transportation safety and security is the increasing use of terrorist devices which avoid detection by conventional means through the use of liquid explosives and flammables. The hazardous materials are generally hidden in wine or liquor bottles that cannot be opened routinely for inspection. This problem was highlighted by the liquid explosives threat which disrupted air traffic between the US an the Far East for an extended period in 1995. Quantum Magnetics has developed a Liquid Explosives Screening systems capable of scanning unopened bottles for liquid explosives. The system can be operated to detect specific explosives directly or to verify the labeled or bar-coded contents of the container. In this system, magnetic resonance (MR) is used to interrogate the liquid. MR produces an extremely rich data set and many characteristics of the MR response can be determined simultaneously. As a result, multiple MR signatures can be defined for any given set of liquids, and the signature complexity then selected according to the level of threat. The Quantum Magnetics Liquid Explosives Screening System is currently operational. Following extensive laboratory testing, a field trial of the system was carried out at the Los Angeles International Airport.
Drivers license display system
Carjackings are only one of a growing class of law enforcement problems associated with increasingly violent crimes and accidents involving automobiles plays weapons, drugs and alcohol. Police traffic stops have become increasingly dangerous, with an officer having no information about a vehicle's potentially armed driver until approaching him. There are 15 million alcoholics in the US and 90 percent of them have drivers licenses. Many of them continue driving even after their licenses have ben revoked or suspended. There are thousands of unlicensed truck drivers in the country, and also thousands who routinely exceed safe operating periods without rest; often using drugs in an attempt to stay alert. MIKOS has developed the Drivers License Display Systems to reduce these and other related risks. Although every state requires the continuous display of vehicle registration information on every vehicle using public roads, no state yet requires the display of driver license information. The technology exists to provide that feature as an add-on to current vehicles for nominal cost. An initial voluntary market is expected to include: municipal, rental, and high value vehicles which are most likely to be mis-appropriated. It is anticipated that state regulations will eventually require such systems in the future, beginning with commercial vehicles, and then extending to high risk drivers and eventually all vehicles. The MIKOS system offers a dual-display approach which can be deployed now, and which will utilize all existing state licenses without requiring standardization.
School Security and Security Analysis
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Systematic, appropriate, and cost-effective application of security technologies in U.S. public schools to reduce crime, violence, and drugs
Mary W. Green
As problems of violence and crime become more prevalent in our schools, more and more school districts will elect to use security technologies to control these problems. While the desired change in student and community attitudes will require significant systemic change through intense US social programs, security technologies can greatly augment school staff today by providing services similar to having extra adults present. Technologies such as cameras, sensors, drug detection, biometric and personnel identification, lighting, barriers, weapon and explosives detection, anti- graffiti methods, and duress alarms can all be effective, given they are used in appropriate applications, with realistic expectations and an understanding of limitations. Similar to a high-risk government facility, schools must consider a systems approach to security, which includes the use of personnel and procedures as well as security technologies, such that the synergy created by all these elements together contributes more tot he general 'order maintenance' of the facility than could be achieved by separate measures not integrated or related.
Analysis of cost-benefit trad-offs of complex security systems
Mary Jane Hicks
Essential to a systems approach to design of security systems is an analysis of the cost effectiveness of alternative designs. While the concept of analysis of cost and benefits is straightforward, implementation can be at the least tedious and, for complex designs and alternatives, can become nearly intractable without the help of structured analysis tools. CPA (cost and performance analysis) is a prototype integration of existing PC-based cost and performance tools: ACE and ASSESS. ACE is an existing DOD PC-based cost analysis tool that supports cost analysis over the full life-cycle of the system; that is, the cost to procure, operate, maintain and retire the system and all of its components. ASSESS is an existing DOE PC-based tool for analysis of performance of physical protection systems. These tools are integrated using C++ and Microsoft Excel macros. Cost and performance data are collected into Excel workbooks, making data readily available to analysts and decision makers in both tabular and graphical formats and at both the system and path element levels.
Security System Technologies
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Security with the 360-deg television-intrusion detection surveillance system
Sidney Feldman, George G. Barton
A unique, versatile, non-mechanical, non-rotating 360 degrees imaging system has been developed and field-tested successively with conventional black and white, color television, 35-mm, motion picture cameras to prove that intruders, vehicles, radiation can be detected and recognized from any direction using one camera. The system consists of a low-cost, unique first surface reflective conical mirror with special computer programmed aspheric surfaces in operation with conventional narrow field of view (FOV) cameras and objective lenses. The cameras are converted to the 360 degree horizontal FOV and flexibility in conical mirror design provides variable elevation FOV to fit the security application. The wide, efficient spectral reflectance of the conical mirror means that UV, LLLTV, far IR thermal TV cameras can be converted, as well, to 360 degree imaging. The TV real-time 360 degree circular image can be processed electronically and presented on the TV monitor as a typical linear undistorted 360 degree rectangular scene or stacked rectangular scenes and also processed to provide analog to digital real-time motion detection and audible alarm to alert security personnel. For the 360 degree imaging systems or any television systems, the motion detection electronics has been designed to function effectively with image digital memory requirements reduced by magnitudes, thereby, increasing computer speed, but reducing computer costs. The 360 degree TV real-time intruder detection systems can operate in internal and external locations. For external locations, optical filtering and electronic processing has been designed to minimize motion detection false alarms caused by the changing illumination, cloud motion, sun glitter, etc. of the outdoor land or marine environment. The versatile 360 degree TV imaging systems objectives are to replace several narrow FOV cameras for an instantaneous 360 degree sweep, accordingly to reduce number of motion detection accessories, to operate with off-the-shelf camera equipment, and, thus to provide a highly cost effective technique for intruder detection in governmental, industrial, commercial, residential, security applications.
Perimitrax: the next generation in guided radar perimeter security technology
Melvin C. Maki, Charles R. Hill
The first application of 'leaky' or 'ported' coaxial cables to radar system for covert detection of human intruders for outdoor perimeter security was in the early 1970's. Early systems were relatively rudimentary using large central processors and difficult to manufacture sensing cables. However, since that time these systems have evolved in both design and performance and been proven to have both high detection performance and low false and nuisance response in such diverse, all-weather perimeter applications as military bases, corrections, and industrial sites. This paper introduces the latest generation of guided radar security technology now being fielded. This generation features more flexible and modular 'plug and play' electronics, matched to both large and small installations from the sensor zone end, up to the control and display. Advanced signal processing is now included which is tuned to discriminate the unique features of the intruder from those of the environment. Such processing capitalize on the ability to look at and classify features of larger perimeters. New 'TR' technology sensor cables have ben developed which are manufactured in a single pass approach to provide more uniformity of sensor performance. These sensor include both a siamese design for single slot burial, and also a small diameter dual cable for wider zone requirements. This paper will outline the major elements of guided radar sensors and overview the new components and architecture of this latest generation. It will discuss the results of early operational performance testing, and the new benefits for diverse applications from government, to corrections and airports.
Ver-i-Fus: an integrated access control and information monitoring and management system
Stelios C.A. Thomopoulos, James G. Reisman, Yiannis E. Papelis
This paper describes the Ver-i-Fus Integrated Access Control and Information Monitoring and Management (IAC-I2M) system that INTELNET Inc. has developed. The Ver-i-Fus IAC-I2M system has been designed to meet the most stringent security and information monitoring requirements while allowing two- way communication between the user and the system. The systems offers a flexible interface that permits to integrate practically any sensing device, or combination of sensing devices, including a live-scan fingerprint reader, thus providing biometrics verification for enhanced security. Different configurations of the system provide solutions to different sets of access control problems. The re-configurable hardware interface, tied together with biometrics verification and a flexible interface that allows to integrate Ver-i-Fus with an MIS, provide an integrated solution to security, time and attendance, labor monitoring, production monitoring, and payroll applications.