This Bean Bag's Not For Sitting


The Orrville Police Department has a new weapon in its arsenal of crime-fighting tools.

A bean bag.

This bean bag is not to be confused with a large brightly colored vinyl lounging chair. It's two inches square, made of white canvas, and filled with No. 9 lead shot. It is manufactured by the Defense Technology Corp. of America and is designated the 23 BR -- Bean Bag Round. It is housed in a clear-walled 12-gauge round and fired from the standard Orrville police issue Remington 870 shotgun.

"It's a useful tool for situations where it's imperative to take someone into custody rapidly but deadly force is not justified," said Sgt. Howard Funk after Orrville police officers trained with the new round in the classroom and on the range. Funk, in addition to his duties as police sergeant, works with the Special Response Team and is Firearms Training Officer for the Orrville Police Department. He recently trained with the 23 BR at the Ohio Police Officer Training Academy in London, Ohio.

"The 23 BR round is in the same class as blunt impact weapons such as the ASP (expanding baton) or PR 24 (standard police baton)," said Funk. "In the 1960s American law enforcement agencies started experimenting with impact munitions as a less lethal option to standard ammunition. Essentially, it extends the range of your baton.

"Possible uses for the 23 BR are against a subject at a distance who is armed with an impact or edged weapon: someone who is not an immediate threat to an officer or civilian. It can also be used against someone who wants the police to kill him: suicide by cop. Additional possible uses are deranged or intoxicated subjects, selective riot control, tactical distractions, and vicious animals," Funk said.

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