Denver stocks up on pepper weapon
City orders guns that fire special plastic balls
By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 17, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Denver police are stocking up on guns that fire a pepper spray-like substance instead of bullets - a less-lethal weapon used to disperse crowds - in advance of the Democratic National Convention.
The department recently ordered 88 Mark IV launchers and projectiles at a cost "in the low six figures," the company that makes the weapons stated in a news release Monday.
The request was for delivery in advance of the DNC, according to Louisville- based Security With Advanced Technology Inc.
The convention, scheduled for Aug. 25 to 28 at the Pepsi Center, is expected to draw thousands of protesters to sites throughout Denver.
The city received a $50 million federal grant for security. A senior adviser to Mayor John Hickenlooper has said the city plans to spend up to half that amount on equipment, with the rest going to pay officers.
But the city has refused to disclose how it is spending the money, prompting the American Civil Liberties Union last month to file a civil lawsuit.
The court filing alleges the city is violating the Colorado Open Records Act.
City officials say releasing the information is "contrary to the public interest" because it could disclose important tactical information, potentially jeopardizing security.
A city spokesperson could not be reached for comment Monday. Meanwhile, speculation about what the city is buying has run rampant.
Some organizers of protest groups believe police are buying extended-range Tasers and weapons that incapacitate people with high-intensity sound.
The Mark IV weapons the city ordered recently fire plastic balls filled with powder that's "like a combination of cayenne pepper and baby powder," the manufacturer said.
It can be fired from up to 100 feet away, said Ben Cook, director of Veritas, a subsidiary of Security With Advanced Technology.
The balls burst open on impact. While the powder will incapacitate a person like pepper spray, it doesn't cause some of the more severe reactions, Cook said.
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June 17, 2008
1:45 a.m.
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happymike44 writes:
What a lovely new device to scare and inflict terror on the masses.
Wonder if this will kill people as well remember the tasers safe and don't worry it's safe.
How many people have died of heart attacks after getting hit with one.
Wonder what this does to someone with a respiratory problem.
Good luck d.p.d just don't use it on me.
June 17, 2008
6:18 a.m.
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yaakovwatkins writes:
If people are peaceful then the police won't use these weapons.
40 years ago in Chicago, the police, with no training in riot control, had been on duty for an average of 18 hours a day for 5 days. Then the demonstrators screamed taunts and threw feces at the police. The police lost their tempers and attacked the demonstrators. That's why the demonstrators are calling it, recreate 68.
If police are not overworked to the point of utter exhaustion, if demonstrators act compassionately to the police and treat them like human beings, we won't have violence.
The ACLU is too irresponsible to realize that all of this planning is to protect the citizenry from violence.
June 17, 2008
7:30 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
I would lose my temper if someone threw feces at me too.
June 17, 2008
7:43 a.m.
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MarcoPolo writes:
Was it their own feces or someone else's? I guess the police had to doo what they had to doo.
June 17, 2008
7:58 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
Typical Democrat run circus....
Step 1 - Lie to voters about who is funding the circus
Step 2 - Use taxpayer funds to buy a bunch of one time use junk to keep your clowns in line
Step 3 - Ship the mayor, governor, and all other clown leaders around the country begging their fatcat lobbyist buddies to give them handouts
Step 4 - When the fatcats refuse to pay for their own circus, steal the funds from taxpayers
Step 5 - Claim it was all a big success, before taxpayers realize they've been fleeced by con artists.
June 17, 2008
8:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
greeneggz writes:
Why would people protest the Democrat party's convention?
Isn't the Democrat party the best hope for the causes that the would-be protestors espouse?
Or is it the right wing extremists who will be protesting the Democrats?
I don't get it.
June 17, 2008
8:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
agreatsign writes:
I don't understand, you mean the people of tolerance and diversity are suspecting of causing social unrest?
Say it isn't so!
Enjoy your pepper balls liberals!
June 17, 2008
8:40 a.m.
Suggest removal
hunter writes:
How many of you know that across the country local, state and or federal governments will set up free speech zones? I guess what scares some folks about the police being armed like and acting like the military is that so many of our freedoms really don't exist anymore. Protecting innocent life is one thing but protecting the system against those it is supposed to be serving is something totally different, something that we should all be concerned about.
Anyone who wants to see a great documentary on the sad/scary state of our country should check out America: Freedom to Fascism. I’m sure you can view it for free on the net.
June 17, 2008
8:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
The lunatic left is admitting to being confused.... they claim that they "don't get it" that there are protests at the Democrat fatcat party.
Confusion is what happens when reality forces a person to confront the fact that their entire view of the world has been proven to be completely wrong.
June 17, 2008
8:56 a.m.
Suggest removal
xerxes7997 writes:
Hunter:
"How many of you know that across the country local, state and or federal governments will set up free speech zones? I guess what scares some folks about the police being armed like and acting like the military is that so many of our freedoms really don't exist anymore. Protecting innocent life is one thing but protecting the system against those it is supposed to be serving is something totally different, something that we should all be concerned about.
Anyone who wants to see a great documentary on the sad/scary state of our country should check out America: Freedom to Fascism. I’m sure you can view it for free on the net."
Seriously Hunter put down the bong...leave the smokey basement and look around you. Thank god for DPD. Unfotunately regardless the DNC protesters are goig to rip downtown denver apart. Just like they did Chicago, and New York. LMAO in '04 they even built cages to try to cointain thesee "protesters" aka vandals & anarchists. The Democrats are gonna come through Denver and leave downtown a smoking ruin. Somehow BHO still thinks that he might win our state afterwards. Considering you represent the average voter I wouldn't be surprised if he still did. I'm just glad I'm moving out of city limits in July that way I don't have to worry about getting stuck with the tab to fix downtown. Oh and by the way FASCISM means fanatically believing in a particular view.....ANY view, right or left. And honestly the only places that I see such pratices in play are places like BOULDER, SAN FRANSISCO, NYC, and other circuses of liberal thought.
June 17, 2008
9:07 a.m.
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The_Punnisher writes:
It looks like the government is preparing for a WAR against it's own people....
The LEO's get the ( supposedly ) non-lethal weapons...
But the MILITARY have standing orders to shoot to KILL.
And you already know that the DPD KILLS whenever they feel like it.
No good will come out of this mindset.
I see a mass slaughter coming up when you PROVOKE a person with a gun.
FOUR DEAD IN OHIO...
June 17, 2008
9:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
hunter writes:
Xerxes, I can actually say I've never seen a marijuana cigarette in my life, except on TV. Why don't you tell me and others what I said that is not provable? Right now anyone can google free speech zones and see that maybe you need to get out of the basement. Trust me, you only wish for freedom sake that the average voter shared my views. I'm also glad you know the meaning of fascism; I'm still not sure what that has to do with my recommendation to watch the video. I guess you were unable to pick up on the fact that I just want folks to question what goes on around them and how their freedom is impacted by it.
June 17, 2008
9:15 a.m.
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cterryr2 writes:
If protesting, bring a gas mask - DA!
June 17, 2008
9:20 a.m.
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Scott writes:
No, no, no. The DPD has it all wrong. To disperse a crowd of geriatric hippies they need to bring in the Denver Fire Department and have DFD hose down these over-the-hill hippies with a mixture of soap and water. The reaction would be similar to throwing holy water on a vampire or just plain water on The-Wicked-Witch-of-the-West. :-)
Scott
June 17, 2008
9:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
xerxes7997 writes:
Hunter & Mama
Oh I'm sure it is correct. They have one at my college and you can say whatever you want there.....about the evil republicans, and bigoted christians, and golden parachute ceo fat cats from those dastardly corporations. BUT as soon as you say something contrary to popular belief about homosexuals, or muslims, or god forbid the law abiding "undocumented" immagrants, you get the college thought police ready to brand you as some violator of "correct thought", they give you the scarlet letter and if you've said something considered to be "hate speech" well you have a damn good chance of getting expelled from school. And you people whine about fascism from the right?!!! In other countries documenatries like "freedom to fascism" are made by the government. When people like you publicly complain, shady government agencies come in the middle of the night and take you away to some kind of camp or worse! Seriously, and you want to whine? Protesters are ALL shot w/o discrimination in Iran....hell they even hang you for being homosexual. I guess maybe you haven't smoked pot but damn you're certainly short sighted. Bottom line is this, if people could protest without destroying the personal property of others there wouldn't be a need for such things. Free speech stops as soon as you throw a brick through some innocent "capitalist pig" shop owners store front window. Ahh....but let me guess you don't believe in the personal property of others. Why am I not surprised.
June 17, 2008
9:36 a.m.
Suggest removal
fairness writes:
xerxes,
"Oh and by the way FASCISM means fanatically believing in a particular view.....ANY view, right or left."
I think you are in desperate need of a dictionary or encyclopedia!
June 17, 2008
9:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
TJH writes:
The cops need SOMETHING to slap the Marxist dregs that live in Colorado--the land of Columbine, blasphemy, and unpatriotic filth who will most likely riot at the convention. I never knew so much leftist sellout human garbage lived in such a wretched State. Hopefully, more and more illegal Mexicans will move in and close down their hospitals, conduct home invasions, and shoplift until the liberals change their tune.
June 17, 2008
9:46 a.m.
Suggest removal
skinnz1 writes:
"Who protests the DNC convention?"
It sure isn't "right wing extremeists," church goers, or pro-McCain people...
I attended the DNC protest in 2000 in Los Angeles because a band I liked (Rage Against the Machine) played a free concert outside. The crowd was made up of the most lunatic part of the far-left, from hardcore PETA, to straight up anarchists. The people that protest are angry, they hate America, and they are proud of it!
You'd think they would like B.O. but nothing will ever make them happy, despite the Dem's attempts to please them.
If pro-McCain people, pro-lifers, etc. showed up like Freethought suggested in his post they would be tarred and feathered. These people do not tolerate anyone who has a different opinion.
They will riot, they did in L.A. They decided to throw rocks at the police after the concert. I hope the cops are ready and able to protect themselves from the Liberal Fascists.
June 17, 2008
9:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
hunter writes:
xerxes,
I'm laughing because I can't figue out if we share similar views or not. My last statement in my last post basically says that people need to know what's going on around them and how that may inpact their freedom and your last statement questions whether I support personal property rights. I wonder if your taking the time to consider what others are saying. Seriously, I just want to live in a TRULY free country, can you fault me for that?
June 17, 2008
9:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
nottmb writes:
Sorry, guys, but there won't be any major massacres or huge fire storms and riots in Denver. This ain't the 60s, and there ain't no draft. No one is being forced into the military, so the usual public apathy will keep things at a relatively calm level. Will there be some organized demonstrations? Sure. Will there be a few arrests? Sure. But don't go looking for fire bombs, shootouts, and blood in the streets, it just ain't gonna happen. Now, if you bring back the draft, then all bets are off.
June 17, 2008
9:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hause writes:
People should not be surprised. This has been brewing for at least 40 years. The concepts of liberalism and conservatism are BOTH valid. The problem is, people who follow either are the ones that cause the problems. Fanatics of each side makes up about 10% per (hence, kook fringe left and neocon right). 80% of us are in the middle. People who truly think and listen are liberal about some things and conservative about others. To be all one way or another is totally unhealthy, chaotic, close minded, selfish to one another, destructive, and subversive to the US. So, Denver is a pinnacle. It is the liberal left chaotic homage to self destruction. Not because people proclaiming to be Democrats, or even Liberals. But because it will be the nerve center for fanatics and radicals on BOTH of these sides. Because of this, I applaud the preparations to protect the people in the "We're Screwed 2008" joke of elections.
June 17, 2008
10:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
Shadow writes:
Pepper spray is a nonlethal device. Dubbed so for its effects on people. In other words it may cause discomfort and teary eyes but in only a small percent will it cause hospitolization.
I ask would you rather have the DPD line up with teflon tipped projectiles and slugs for shotguns instead of pepper spray?
June 17, 2008
10:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
mrNiceGuy writes:
$50 million for security? Another astronomical amount of cash, for what? For publicity & advertisement! Hey, I've got a major idea about how to get our country out of recession, how to help the thousands of people who are losing their homes, how to decrease the growing number of children in poverty, how to provide health care and education to the people....etc, etc, etc.......... get the money out of the government's hands, they spend, spend, and spend some more and all we the people receive are empty promises.
June 17, 2008
10:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
Prism writes:
Let's face it the only ones protesting are going to be the
far left republicans. They've had us up in a clouds the last 8 years
I don’t have a problem being conservative with my money but our current government is killing us in debt to other countries and doing nothing about it. He’s led us right smack into a recession. with American’s dying daily on his watch for his war. We have the ability to fight if needed but we shouldn’t be occupying another country. Some call it help but the reality is we are only there because oil. You go Bush, the greatest blunder of them all. Poor intelligent he says when so many had told him weapons did not exists. Once we learned that they didn't have them, it was a great opportunity to stay for this administration. If he does leave office soon he’s going to destroy the middle class completely.
June 17, 2008
11:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
kelloggss writes:
Stay away from the Brown Acid,and bring your Rubbers!
Liberals are a bunch of attention gimps in need of a good "Kent State" style put down,but we all know all the police put on the playing field will be Geldings with one bullet in their front pocket like Barny Fife,and anything so much of a pink hair falling out will get sued..so have fun,break out the peace beads and Joan Baez and smoke em' because we all know you got em'.
June 17, 2008
11:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
Oh_Wise_One writes:
Prism- just keep smoking whatever that is and let the Adults stay in charge.
There won't be any "far left republicans" protesting anything at the DNC. They will be sitting back sipping a coke, eating popcorn and laughing at the Hippies, Code Pinkos, anarchists and other assorted whacks causing the Dhimmicrats problems. You enabled the Nutz, now you have to clean up the mess.
June 17, 2008
12:05 p.m.
Suggest removal
Prism writes:
Oh_Wise get you're head out of you butt. I don't smoke or drink
unlike you who would sit back and sip your coke eating popcorn
at someones else expense. Isn't that just like you. You've probably never have fought for this country or own purple hearts for the love ones you've lost. Yeah sit back and let everyone else do something for you because that's what you represent. The rich always want to live for themselfs hopefully you wont die alone like our boys out in some other country making your life so wonderful eating popcorn sitting around. I would rather see our men and women coming home enjoying the very thing you speak of and take for granted. Maybe you should go stick your butt on the line or even better put your kids out there an have them come home missing pieces or in a box. Oh you sure are so wise like our current President the blunderer.
June 17, 2008
3:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
jtk writes:
“Oh and by the way FASCISM means fanatically believing in a particular view.....ANY view, right or left.” WRONG! Fascism:
• A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition ...
• A social and political ideology with the primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms.
• A system of government that promotes extreme nationalism, repression, anticommunism, and is ruled by a dictator.
June 17, 2008
4:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
CasperWski writes:
At the DNC, agents provocateurs will be used to give police an opportunity to attack peaceful protestors.
This is a tried and true tactic around the world. It has been used extensively here in the USA for decades.
Here is a video of how they did it in Canada last year. I'm ashamed to say that it was done at the behest of people from the USA who should not be allowed to call themselves Americans.
This is what will happen unless protestors are trained to recognize these people and isolate them.
Evidence-- Police Provoke Violence At SPP (North American Union) Protest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCRsj0...
June 17, 2008
5:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
the_general writes:
Truth is, the whole liberal-conservative red state-blue state Democrat-Republican polarization of the population is a divide and conquer strategy of the elite who actually control this country. They have no affiliation to one party or another, they choose who runs and who wins elections, and they stuff each administration with 100s of their key players. Research the CFR and see what I'm saying is true. They are trying to turn this country into a police state, little by little, and like the frog in a pot where the temperature is slowly raised, most will not figure it out till its too late. They know the system is falling apart, the nation going bankrupt from their Federal Reserve scheme, and they need that power to keep you in line.
June 17, 2008
5:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
izzyeddy writes:
Better bring your gas mask. Gonna be tough.
June 17, 2008
9:33 p.m.
Suggest removal
jimbo50 writes:
Prism,
Give me a break. That is laughable. "we went to war for oil"... Show me where we have taken the first drop of oil from Iraq. With $4.00+ a gallon gas I think your argument is bunk. As far as Conservatives protesting, that won't happen because they all have jobs and are paying for the liberal clowns that are the professional protesters you see at any event or meeting.
Oh Wise One, I thought of dhimmicrat the other day and there you go putting it out there before me. Beat me to the punch. Nice observation.
June 18, 2008
4:06 a.m.
Suggest removal
corey writes:
This "pepper" weapon will most likely be used by the police and their "friends" to incite violence, so, in turn; they can say that the peaceful demonstrators were actually violent.
Just do a search on Live Leak or You Tube, and you can find plenty of footage of just this happening.
America...home of the powerful and those they abuse.
Corey Mondello
Boston, Massachusetts
www.CoreyMondello.com
6-18-08
June 18, 2008
8:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
ThomasMc writes:
Dissent will not be allowed! Sieg Heil!
(Silly you, thinking the Dems were different...)
June 18, 2008
9:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
monkeydollmaker writes:
I think the interesting thing to watch here will be how the Hillary for president protesters, the "We Were Robbed Group" will interact with the anti-leftist and anti-communist demonstrators, Will they mix in or stand apart? And then you have the other radical group "The Downtrodden Blacks", Obama supporters who want their reparations and to send Whitey to the back of the bus. The idiots who think this whole thing isn't going to turn into an ugly nationwide race riot haven't put on their little thinking caps. The rev. Wright issue is NOT going away!
June 18, 2008
10:25 a.m.
Suggest removal
sheepherder writes:
Corey, I saw protestors getting out of hand and getting what they deserved.
June 18, 2008
11:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
SockRayBlue writes:
The Denver Police have Pepper Balls.........Isn't that racist?
June 18, 2008
6:40 p.m.
Suggest removal
ofc_johndoe writes:
Corey, you have big balls don't you? you'll put your name out there, you'll make outrageous statements...
I'm a cop, and for you to suggest that we take pleasure in being involved in a riot, to have our lives threatened, at hurting people, to have hours of paperwork per each use of force is ridiculous.
Are there dirty cops - yes. but your suggestions belong in a movie, not reality.
The youtube videos are usually from Russia or other countries where you would have been beaten years ago.
In America, sadly, the criminals have more rights than the cops. Cops are always second guessed.
And Happymike - the 1st post - you asked how many people have died from getting hit with a taser - ZERO
I've been hit three times and I'm doing just fine.
Taser International has not lost a single wrongful death lawsuit.
Try looking out for the good guys once in a while...
June 18, 2008
9:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
dirty writes:
ofc_johndoe,
Have to agree, I've been tased and apart from the momentary discomfort it was much better than being whacked by a billyclub or getting shot. Of course the only people who die in conjunction with a tasering are scum jacked up on PCP or coke.
Be safe out there.
June 19, 2008
4:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
CoLoradoCitizen writes:
If they're protesting the Dems, then they'll be republicans. So it will be Preachers and Ministers along with their 'Massage Therapist' that they buy drugs from. Big Oil Execs holding the strings of the G.o.P puppets. Republican Senators along with the gay men they picked up in the air-port bathroom. And incredibly slow-thinking N.R.A. members fearing the gov't. All of them in one big Circle - Jerk. They'll have to pepper spray them to get them apart.
June 19, 2008
4:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
CoLoradoCitizen writes:
And they'll be protesting Gay Marriage.
June 20, 2008
10:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hallonsylt writes:
Yes, there are left-wing fascists who are the enemies of free speech with their politically correct bull. But there are also right wing fascists whose best argument is to simply to randomly and baselessly call other "libs" or "wackos", etc.
The fact is that the state is the enemy of the people. Throughout history more citizens have been murdered by their own governments than by any outside force, or by other citizens.
911 was an inside job. The London bombings and the Madrid bombings the same. The Reichstag fire in Germany to bring on Hitler's Enabling Act, the sinking of the Maine to start the Spanish-American War, the Gulf of Tonkin to start the Vietnam War, the JFK assassination which long suspected CIA man EH Hunt of Watergate fame admitted was an CIA op, Columbine to attack gun owners,Oklahoma City to give patriots a bad name,Waco to flex the government's brutal fascist muscles, the Seattle riots to give protests a bad name and to practice the Police State- these are only the most famous of countless government ops by the demon government against WE THE PEOPLE. The demon government also does a lot of other evil, such as shipping in cocaine into our country and murdering young boys who witness their nefarious activities. (Google: The Clinton Chronicles). Oh yeah, and then there's the sexually perverted torture these so-called "Christian" neo-cons promote. By the way, Google "Trotskyite New Republic" and you'll find out that neo-cons actually admit in their own publication, the New Republic, to be followers of Trotsky!
The murdering demons from hell, worshipers of Lucifer from occultic groups such as the Masons or other secret societies like Bush and Kerry's Skull and Bones have unlimited resources to hire little shills spewing out their anti-logic. Watch for them, I know their tricks, as they say nothing new or original. Don't even bother to get them to use logic, as demons from hell are not interested in the truth. In fact, the truth is their enemy, and so are you and I. Mortal enemies that hate us, but the hate goes both ways, scum.
June 20, 2008
10:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Hallonsylt writes:
The point of the above rant is this: If some anarchists or whatever group you don't like are involved in a riot in Denver, don't just knee-jerk believe it was really their cause that caused the problem. In all likelihood it will really be government operatives provacateering a riot so that the Nazi, demon police state can come in with their black outfits, helicopters, weapons and torture devices to "save the day" just like they did at Hurricane Katrina where they spent their time terrorizing high and dry areas and shooting or threatening to shoot people who had the gall to try to move out by foot so they could survive. This the Brown Shirts., I mean Blackwater was busy doing instead of getting people some frickin water!