Thread by @RyanVanVelzer

I wrote a story about the crowd control weapons @LMPD has used amid #louisvilleprotests. I wanted to provide an update thread with answers from LMPD. Here's last week's story: wfpl.org/the-weapons-us…

.@LMPD crowd control weapons include "OC spray [pepper spray], ECW [Electronic Control Weapons], Pepperball Guns, 40 mm Aerial Bangs, 40 mm Scatter rounds, triple chaser gas rounds, hand tossed gas rounds, 40 mm marking rounds, 40 mm impact rounds...

less lethal sock rounds, stinger rubber ball grenades and long distance pepper ball guns." They also have two LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device) units. Each unit costs $8,805.

LMPD has used "probably less than 10" Stinger Grenades, which are described like this "The Stinger® Rubber Ball Grenade is a maximum effect device that delivers three stimuli for psychological and physiological effects: rubber pellets, light, and sound." safariland.com/on/demandware.…

I also asked why LMPD changed protocol for teargas but not for pepper ball rounds. wfpl.org/fischer-announ…

.@LMPD said "The decision to put more restrictions on the use of CS Gas was made due to concerns from the public about its use. In some situations, dispersal tactics do need to be employed and the pepper ball rounds have a more limited range."

"We did not make any changes due to the type of chemical agent being used. Both have been shown to be safe and effective. The change is simply in the method of dispersal of the chemical agent...

"Because the method of dispersal of CS in the gas form is highly visible and effects larger geographic areas the chief felt it was appropriate for that decision to rest in his hands. The use of pepperballs, or other systems...

used to disperse chemical agent, are much more direct in there effects. As such their deployment remains aligned with our Use of Chemical Agent policy, SOP 9.1.9, with the decision for use remaining in the hands of the officers trained in and tasked with their usage"

On the number of pepper ball rounds used: "We do not have a total of deployed rounds. They are issued department-wide and an exact count would be difficult to obtain."

On the potential for long-term hearing damage from LRADs: "We are aware of successful and unsuccessful uses of the LRAD in other cities. When used properly the LRAD is a safe and effective tool to give information to and gain compliance from large groups of people prior to the...

direct use of force, such as with chemical agent. We have used the alarm tone function in a very limited and controlled manner, (which is the function I believe you are referring to). We have not and will not use the system in a punitive fashion."