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Phoenix Police highlight new less lethal force options, de-escalation training

Adding a larger array of less lethal projectile options and new officer training has helped empower officers to deescalate volatile incidents with minimal injuries, a police official said.

Phoenix Police began a pilot program for pepperball guns and guns that fire 40-milimeter foam batons in October 2021. Since then, Assistant Phoenix Police Chief Bryan Chapman told a city council subcommittee on Monday, the less lethal weapons have been deployed — taken out of patrol vehicles in case needed — 11,739 times and discharged about 11% of those times, 1,285.