Tactical Flashlights gear for department issued duty weapons to ensue safety

The City of Lawrence Police Department will use JAG funds to purchase department issued weapon-mounted flashlights (WMLs), mini rechargeable flashlights along with leg iron handcuffs. The purchase of the mini rechargeable and weapon-mounted flashlights will allow for safe and effective target identification in low-light situations, enabling them to illuminate potential threats while simultaneously aiming their weapon with one hand, significantly enhancing situational awareness and officer safety. The handcuffs will be used to secure possible suspects and prevent a situation from escalating to the use of higher levels of force. Handcuffs will also be used in executing an investigatory stop and makes it harder for a person to flee. 

The City of Lawrence has seen an increase in calls for services ranging from burglaries, disturbances with a weapon, domestics, robbery and stolen vehicles in the various communities and local businesses. Most of these calls for service take place at night in the cover of darkness. This makes it difficult for a police officer to identify a suspect or anticipate any mitigating dangers in front of them when in pursuit.  

The goal of the department is to plan, organize and implement the distribution of equipment to officers who have not been supplied with the equipment and ensure officer have completed all necessary training to be authorized to carry a weapon-mounted flashlight.

The objective of the department is to Initiate the process of equipping officers with tools that will enhance safety and enable them to perform their duties in the most effective means possible. 

In an effort to create protective environments for the citizens of the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Police Department it is the expectation that with the purchasing of additional weapon-mounted flashlights and handcuffs, this will aid in the reduction of crime related offenses in the community. The use of this equipment will be used in intercepting fleeing criminals, as well as give officers an opportunity to observe signs that individuals may be engaged in violations that affect the community.