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Pepper Spray Evaluation Project: Results of the Introduction of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Into the Baltimore, Maryland, Police Department Final Report

NCJ Number
157160
Date Published
1995
Length
126 pages
Annotation
This study was designed to evaluate how oleoresin capsicum (OC), or pepper spray, was adopted and implemented by the Baltimore County Police Department, the impact that OC use had on police and subject injuries and brutality/use-of-force complaints, and its effectiveness in subduing physically resistant subjects.
Abstract
During the 9-month evaluation period, OC spray was used by police officers 194 times on either humans or dogs. OC spray was most often used in incidents involving battery, assault, disorderly conduct, domestic violence, and traffic-related incidents. Sixty- two percent of the incidents involving OC spray occurred outdoors. The subjects against whom OC spray was used by police officers were typically male, of medium or large frame size, who were intoxicated, belligerent, or combative. Officers reported that 65 percent of sprayed subjects were submissive and another 15 percent were compliant after the spraying. In 90 percent of the cases, the suspect was sufficiently incapacitated to allow arrest. Compared to data from the previous two years, the number of citizen complaints alleging police use-of-force were lower during the OC spray use period. Similarly, the number of officers assaulted by suspects was lower. 22 figures, 2 tables, 9 notes, 12 references, and 11 appendixes