In an environment as dangerous and unpredictable as a correctional facility, officers need to be equipped with tools that are effective and easy to use. The goal of maintaining order and keeping inmates safe is always attempted using as little force as possible, making nonlethal tools essential components of an officer’s daily gear.
Commonly used items, such as TASERs, OC sprays, blunt force rounds or even noise flash diversionary devices, can be effective in certain situations, but they’re not always appropriate in all instances. Officers in Wyandotte County in Kansas City, Kansas, experienced this firsthand and ended up learning about a unique nonlethal solution they had never heard of.
“We had a huge problem in our detention center with inmates taking the food port hostage,” explained Detective Devin Baird, a 15-year law enforcement and corrections veteran. “We tried numerous techniques and tactics to alleviate the problem, but nothing was working. I reached out to local agencies to see if anyone was doing something that maybe we hadn’t thought about. That’s when I got ahold of officers at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and had a conversation with them.”
Despite his experience, Baird was surprised to learn about the nonlethal tool JCSO officers were using – the G.L.O.V.E. by Compliant Technologies.
Discovering a new tool
Different than the nonlethal tools the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office was used to, the G.L.O.V.E. is designed to generate a low output voltage that’s used to elicit compliance quickly. The company refers to the current it produces as CD3 technology, which stands for conductive distraction and de-escalation device. It’s low enough that individuals aren’t injured but rather experience an uncomfortable feeling via neural peripheral interference.
After hearing about the G.L.O.V.E. from JCSO officers, Baird attended a free training course to see it in action and “loved it.” He returned to his department, put together an informational presentation for his administration and explained how the tool could be useful for their agency. Compliant Technologies’ CEO, Jeff Niklaus, happened to be in the area as well and stopped by to provide in-person demonstrations.
“Once the upper command saw the tool live, it was a no-brainer,” said Baird. “I think we ordered our first two pairs within a week of Jeff coming in and doing a demo.” The agency also uses the company’s E-band ankle restrictors, which also use CD3 technology, whenever they need to transport an inmate.
While WYSO officers and correctional staff embraced the G.L.O.V.E. wholeheartedly, many in law enforcement and corrections believe some long-standing myths that surround nonlethal tools. Here’s what Baird and other officers noticed once they started using the G.L.O.V.E.
Misconception No. 1: Nonlethal tools work in the same way
When considering the array of options on the market, it initially seems as if corrections officers only have a few options: TASERs, OC sprays, blunt force tools or distraction devices. With its CD3 technology, the G.L.O.V.E. can’t be lumped into any of these categories.
“You have to use this tool for what it is,” said Baird. “It’s not a replacement for anything. It has really helped us in the corrections setting and is something you can use on a daily basis.”
For officers hearing about the G.L.O.V.E. without seeing it, it may be difficult to understand how and why it works so effectively. WYSO officers initially made the comparison to another common tool until they experienced it for themselves.
“I think there was a misconception that it kind of worked like a TASER because that was really the only tool we had that used electricity,” said Baird. “Once officers saw it in a real-life situation, they realized it has its own specific use – its own niche.”
Misconception No. 2: Nonlethal tools can be used without much training
The fact that nonlethal tools are designed to incapacitate a subject without causing death might lead some to believe that being trained on their use isn’t as important. While law enforcement and corrections agencies place a heavy emphasis on firearm training, it doesn’t mean nonlethal tools shouldn’t receive the same level of regard.
At WYSO, officers are introduced to the G.L.O.V.E. long before they may need to use it on a suspect or inmate. Baird says they spend an entire day learning how to use it during basic academy training, along with live demonstrations of both the G.L.O.V.E. and the E-bands.
“We’re always looking for new tools to make the job easier,” he said. “The G.L.O.V.E. completely stands alone as far as use goes, so that’s why we teach the class on it by itself. We even have a standalone policy for its use.”
Misconception No. 3: Nonlethal tools aren’t effective
Stopping violence from escalating doesn’t always require the use of force, and when nonlethal tools are used appropriately, problematic situations can be resolved shockingly quickly. Since one of the main challenges that prompted WYSO to invest in the G.L.O.V.E. had to do with inmates holding food ports hostage, officers decided that scenario would be the best place to start with the new tool.
“They used it six or seven times over the course of a month with the food port hostage situation and after that, the problem stopped,” said Baird. “Seeing the G.L.O.V.E. acts as a deterrent, so officers end up not having to use any force at all.”
Unlike other nonlethal tools that may vary with success rates, the G.L.O.V.E. has a 95% first-grab success rate and can take individuals from resistance to compliance in under three seconds.
Visit Compliant Technologies for more information.
