Making the Case for the PepperBall® FTCTM Launcher

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by Jason Bain, PCI #1046-B/EMSCI #278-B
Saint Paul (MN) Police Department
IPMBA Industry Liaison

Throughout my time as a member of a Bicycle Response Team (BRT), and now as a sergeant, I have wished for an alternative non-lethal option than the MK-9, which is standard issue for my department’s team. Our BRTs are being called upon more and more to assist with events ranging from First Amendment marches, school parades, and marathon escorts to more contentious situations like presidential rallies. In my opinion, having more options is always a good thing.

I know of departments that equip their BRT team leaders with hand-tossed smoke, blast balls, inert blast balls, stinger balls and/or OC blast balls. I have also seen team leaders deploy with 40mm launchers, which they carry in small, compact backpacks. All these munitions are very effective for BRTs, since we are typically the first officers who arrive on scene when a crowd has become aggressive or actively resistant. The problem with these munitions is that you are restricted by the number of items you can carry due to the size of the hand-tossed munitions as well as that of the 40mm launcher and rounds.

My department currently equips patrol officers with the PepperBall® TCPTM (Tactical Compact Pistol) launcher for day-to-day deployment. After becoming a PepperBall instructor for my department, I started thinking that our BRTs should also have PepperBall launchers. The department is currently in the process of researching and developing a policy for the use of PepperBall launchers for crowd control and dispersal.

While it is small enough to fit onto a standard duty belt, the problem with the TCP is that it only carries six projectiles in the magazine, and there are only two magazines per launcher. This is fine for regular deployments, but not as effective in a crowd. So I set about researching alternatives.

PepperBall offers five launchers with various capacities and ranges. Of the ones currently available, the model I believe that would be the best fit for our BRT is the FTCTM. This launcher does not have the appearance of a patrol rifle; instead, it resembles a paint ball launcher. It could be carried in a small backpack with extra hoppers of projectiles as well as extra high pressure air tanks. Each hopper holds approximately 180 projectiles and each high pressure air tank can launch 200-230 projectiles. PepperBalls are about the size of a small marble and only weigh three grams each. The high projectile capacity, the compact size, and the light weigh are attractive features for Bicycle Response Team members.

BRT members could deploy the PepperBall projectiles towards advancing active resistant or violent crowds to disperse them prior to having to confront them. These projectiles can be launched from up to 150 feet away from the crowd, reducing the likelihood of the face-to-face confrontations that are so common when holding a line. In addition, an officer would be able to carry many more projectiles than the 40mm or other hand-tossed munitions.

PepperBall carries nearly 20 types of projectiles including LIVE .5% PAVA payload, LIVE X 1% PAVA payload, green paint solution marking projectiles, and inert. All of these projectiles are operational in temperatures ranging from minus 30 F (-34 C) to 150 F (65 C), which would serve the needs of almost any BRT anywhere.

I am not suggesting that we completely get rid of the hand tossed munitions, MK-9’s or the 40 mm launchers, but I am suggesting that Bicycle Response Team members consider using the PepperBall FTC launcher to supplement your non-lethal crowd dispersal tools. If your BRT has experience with this or similar non-lethal options, please contact me with your opinions.

Photos courtesy http://www.pepperball.com.

Jason Bain has been a police officer for 24 years and is now assigned to the Special Operations unit of the Saint Paul Police Department. He has been an IPMBA member and Instructor since 2007. He was the 2012 IPMBA Conference co-chair. He was elected to the the IPMBA Board in 2016 and currently serves as Industry Liaison. He can be reached at jbain7004@msn.com.

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