In 1987 the New York City Police Department decided to train and issue its officers the Monadnock PR-24 baton, primarily because of the ability of trainees to retain many more instinctive techniques with the PR-24 than with the straight baton. The tactical soundness of the PR-24 is the result of field studies conducted by a number of police departments. The Monadnock Life Products, Inc., does not endorse the use of the PR-24 without certification by a Monadnock certified instructor. The 12-hour training course teaches a series of standardized techniques that have withstood countless street and court confrontations. In a recent survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, night sticks were listed as standard issued equipment for 75 percent of officers in the field. Fifty-four percent of those were PR-24 batons. Critics note the bulkiness of the PR-24 when worn on the belt and the extended length of the training program.