Acoustic Riot Control Tactics Called "Excessive" at G20.

[twyacht]

Anarchists, ACLU lawyers, are whining at the LEO's use of high decibel acoustic crowd control measures. Read the cry baby's

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091001/D9B28SAO0.html

Oct 1, 7:10 AM (ET)

By JOE MANDAK

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Police ordered protesters to disperse at the Group of 20 summit last week with a device that can beam earsplitting alarm tones and verbal instructions that the manufacturer likens to a "spotlight of sound," but that legal groups called potentially dangerous.

The device, called a Long Range Acoustic Device, concentrates voice commands and a car alarm-like sound in a 30- or 60-degree cone that can be heard nearly two miles away. It is about two feet square and mounted on a swivel such that one person can point it where it's needed. The volume measures 140-150 decibels three feet away - louder than a jet engine - but dissipates with distance.

During the Pittsburgh protests, police used the device to order demonstrators to disperse and to play a high-pitched "deterrent tone" designed to drive people away. It was the first time the device was used in a riot-control situation on U.S. soil, according to American Technology and police.

Those who heard it said authorities' voice commands were clear and sounded as if they were coming from everywhere all at once. They described the "deterrent tone" as unbearable.

Joel Kupferman, who was at Thursday's march as a legal observer for the National Lawyer's Guild, said he was overwhelmed by the tone and called it "overkill."

"When people were moving and they still continued to use it, it was an excessive use of weaponry," Kupferman said.

Witold "Vic" Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union in Pennsylvania, said the device is a military weapon capable of producing permanent hearing loss, something he called "an invitation to an excessive-force lawsuit."

***

More dribble at link,.... Perhaps the rent a mob destroying private property was "excessive",,,, nah,....just the volume of non lethal crowd control.

They used to just beat a mob, now the pansies are still whining....

[tombogan03884]

 In China they would have machine gunned them or driven tanks over them.
I say go back to tear gas, rubber bullets and batons.

[Pathfinder]

In China they would have machine gunned them or driven tanks over them.
I say go back to tear gas, rubber bullets and batons.

Tom, hate to say it buddy, but you're going soft. First you comment on machines guns and tanks, and then immediately want to lighten the methodology.

[fullautovalmet76]

In China they would have machine gunned them or driven tanks over them.
I say go back to tear gas, rubber bullets and batons.

Just wait, Tom, they will be mowing people down here in the not-too-distant future. This is a step in that direction....But it will all be done for our "security" though; so never fear.....

[Jackel]

newest headline: rapist is suing 23 year old jane doe for using pepper spray on him. "man she could have killed me!"

[Sponsor]

[fightingquaker13]

There i an issue here IF the thing can cause permenant damage. I've been to a few protests where the crowds were generally peaceful and then some jackasses started messing with the cops or the like. Here the police could run in with Tom's CS and batons and get those guys and the rest of the folks retreat with no more damage than runny eyes and a little vomiting. If they hose the crowd as a whole with something that can do damge and was designed for the battlefield or repelling boarders its a problem. Now in riot situations I zero problem, but at a permitted protest that turns rowdy....I'll add to this that we all know cops. Give them a non  lethal weapon and they get trigger happy. I'll offer tasers and pepper spray as examples. They are much more restrained with guns and clubs because they know they can get in trouble. Give them a toy like this and they will use it.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Tom, hate to say it buddy, but you're going soft. First you comment on machines guns and tanks, and then immediately want to lighten the methodology.

Do YOU want to have to scrape asshole off a tank for an inspection ?  

FQ, Around here a cop cannot carry a Taser unless he has been zapped. They are not subjecting anyone to anything THEY have not experienced themselves.
I will say that OSHA considers anything over 100 decibels dangerous with out hearing protection 130 is about the same as a .357 Mag.

[1911 Junkie]

The "rioting" for G-20 was way overhyped. The freaks didn't show up in significant numbers or get the airtime they wanted during the event so they now have to try and make up for it by whining about how they were treated, you know, "get the word out".

I have no problems with peaceful demonstrations or get togethers but when these A-holes show up with the intent to commit property damage, all bets are off.

My solution was to give them a warning to disperse, if they don't disperse, shoot the first 5, the rest should take the hint. 

I also had to work in Da 'Burgh during the "festivities". I had an AR in the trunk ready to go just in case things got stupid.