The city of Mesa is purchasing more than 80 semi-automatic pepper-ball launchers as part of a pilot program to test and use them for non-lethal crowd dispersal.
The Mesa City Council voted unanimously Nov. 20 as part of a consent agenda with other items to approve a $250,000 contract with Safeware Inc. for 84 PepperBall TAC-SA (tactical semi-automatic) launchers and other required equipment.
Under Senate Bill 1720, the Arizona state treasurer appropriated $250,000 to the Mesa Police Department as one of three cities to pilot a pepper-ball program.
“This program is intended to test a less lethal force option when faced with resistance or crowd dispersal without significant bodily injury,” Mesa Business Services Director Edward Quedens and Procurement Administrator Kristy Garcia said in a memo to the council.
Staff obtained quotes from existing vendors Diamondback Police Supply, Proforce and Safeware. Safeware provided the most advantageous pricing, they said in the memo.
According to the manufacturer, PepperBall, the TAC-SA “is the perfect tool for crowd management, riot-control scenarios or any situation requiring high-intensity engagement. It quickly disperses PAVA (a pepper powder) across expansive areas making it a solid tool for operational teams,” it states at pepperball.com.
Since coming to market in 1998, PepperBall has been deployed by more than 10,000 state, county, municipal and federal law enforcement agencies across the globe. PepperBall launchers are not considered a firearm by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The launchers are powered by compressed carbon dioxide or nitrogen cartridges, the website states.
The TAC-SA can hold 160 rounds of a .68-caliber projectile and fire a distance of 60 feet, it states in an operational instructions document.
SB 1720 appropriated a total of $750,000, distributing $250,000 each to the Chandler, Tucson and Mesa police departments, according to azleg.gov.
“The pepper ball pilot program is intended to test a nonlethal compliance tool that can be deployed at a distance of greater than 20 feet and that does not cause significant bodily injury,” it states in the bill.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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