The Alternative® is less-lethal technology that mitigates risk exposure for law enforcement departments and governments - all while protecting officers and saving lives.
Many critical incidents involve persons in crisis, who are often armed and non-compliant while posing a risk to themselves, to responding officers, or to other people on scene. In these situations, effective de-escalation tactics in a controlled manner may require the use of less-lethal force to safely effect arrests and save lives. The successful deployment of these tools provides the person in crisis an opportunity to turn their life around and allows responding officers to remain whole by potentially avoiding an escalation of force in these dangerous situations.
In the U.S., officer-involved shooting fatalities have risen in recent years despite the availability of less-lethal tools. With over 1,200 fatalities in each of the last two years, 2022 and 2023 were the highest in history. The Thurgood Marshall Institute found that over $2.2B was paid in settlements related to use of force fatalities in the last decade, and this only includes settlements that were publicly disclosed consisting of 167 cases within this time period. Based on the available data, the research concluded that the annual risk exposure of law enforcement fatalities is about $7.7M per 100k in population, demonstrating that heavy financial repercussions are undeniable for departments and local governments.
When critical incidents occur, they are investigated and scrutinized both in a court of law and the court of public opinion. When there are fatalities, departments can face significant financial and reputational responsibilities, even if officers follow protocol and handle the situation appropriately with available options. Although less-lethal tools are not always effective, a department’s use of less-lethal technology demonstrates proactivity to mitigate potential lethal force situations and conveys that intent to members of the community.
We refer to The Alternative® as next generation less-lethal technology, because it is the only option that can be carried on the belt of every patrol officer and doesn’t require transitioning to a separate device when an officer’s service weapon is drawn. While most less-lethal tools have to be called up in critical incidents, our device offers an immediately available intermediate force option by allowing an officer the opportunity to convert their firearm to a less-lethal platform and instantly back to its normal function for seamless protective cover once The Alternative® has been deployed.
The availability of effective options in critical incidents can often be the difference between life and death, and when The Alternative® is utilized, it shows an officer’s intent to preserve life. It can also reduce an officer’s stress and optimize decision-making by simply knowing there’s an additional step before lethal force should the situation escalate. The Alternative® will not only save lives, protect officers, and mitigate risk in critical incidents, but it can also help to build trust between departments and the communities they protect.
