Anne Arundel County police plan to arm 40 patrol officers with shotguns containing beanbag rounds by Thursday, just over a month after the police-involved fatal shooting of an 18-year-old galvanized support for less-than-lethal weapons.
Police spokesman Lt. David Waltemyer said that 33 officers have been trained to use the beanbag rounds; about six are already using them.
The department began considering the beanbag rounds in 2005, after a police officer fatally shot an unarmed naked man. After three officer-involved shootings last month, the department moved on the initiative, Waltemeyer said
“The chief approached members of the department and expressed an urgency to continue with the research,” Waltemeyer said.
In each of the four police districts, two officers will carry beanbag rounds during day shifts. During the night shift, three officers in each district will be equipped with them. Also, one officer assigned to the tactical patrol unit will carry beanbag rounds.
Officers who are issued the beanbag rounds must go through a day-long training session in which they learn when and where the weapon is appropriate to use, Waltemeyer said. Officers who are not carrying the rounds must still undergo a training to learn how to respond if the beanbag is deployed, he said.
“I am definitely supportive of less than lethal devices … anythingto give the officers the tools necessary to take control of the situation without fatally injuring the citizens is a good thing,” said County Councilman Ron Dillon.
The May shootings also touched off intense support for the use of Tasers, which were only legalized by the County Council in early April.
Waltemeyer said the department is currently conducting a regional review of to research their policies on Tasers. Baltimore and Howard County police currently use Taser guns, according to spokesmen.
“The chief certainly feels a sense of urgency once again,” Waltemeyer said, “However, it doesn?t stop us from doing the necessary research. Tasers are very controversial .. they are not something we can simply just give an officer and have them carry it on patrol,” Waltemeyer said.
