NCJ Number
196714
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: April 2002 Pages: 20,22,24
Editor(s)
David Griffith
Date Published
April 2002
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article briefly describes various metal detectors utilized by law enforcement, their effectiveness as a tool in disarming suspects, and new search technologies.
Abstract
The ability of law enforcement to conduct a good protective search of an individual requires as intrusive a probing as garments will allow. The least intrusive means of searching an individual is the metal detector, such as the magnetic resonance, walk-through systems, and magic wands. Not only is it seen as least intrusive, it is seen as more expedient. Metal detectors can be used to locate knives, guns, bombs, razor blades, and hypodermic needles. They can assist in locating discarded firearms and burglary tools. However, some metal detectors can be less dependable than others. One identified problem is the growing assortment of non-metallic weapons, ranging from ceramic knives to plastic guns. These can be smuggled past metal detectors. To offset this potential problem canines and imaging technology are used to supplement metal detectors. Future innovative technology identifies the potential use of millimeter wave imaging as the replacement for metal detectors.