Call_0004-_SOO_H-_Law_Enforcement_Capture_and_Restraining_System.pdf

Law Enforcement Capture and Restraining System Statement of Objectives BAA 13-012/Call 0004/ SOO H

October 13, 2015 Science and Technology Directorate Department of Homeland Security

DISTRIBUTION NOTICE: Further dissemination only as directed by DHS Office of Policy DESTRUCTION NOTICE: Destroy by any method that will prevent disclosure of contents or reconstruction of the document.

October 5, 2015 i

Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose

2.0 Scope (Capability Gap)

3.0 Period and Place of Performance

4.0 Background

5.0 Functional Requirements

5.1 Overall Concept of Operations

5.2 Threat

5.3 Operating Constraints (Current Technology Shortfalls)

5.4 Specific Required Capabilities

5.4.1 Operation

5.4.2 Functionality

5.4.3 System Characteristics

5.5 System Performance

5.5.1 Mission Scenarios

5.5.2 Compatibility and Interoperability

5.5.3 Human Interface Requirements

5.5.4 Alert Requirements

5.5.5 Logistics and Readiness

5.5.6 Durability

5.6 System Support

5.6.1 Maintenance

5.6.2 Capabilities and Limitations

5.6.3 Supply

5.7 Training

5.8 Storage

5.9 System Affordability

5.10 Certification Requirements for Product Conformity

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of the proposed solution is to provide law enforcement personnel with a safe, easy to use, and effective restraining system. The final result should reduce potential harm to the suspect and/or to the responder when capturing and restraining the suspect. Ideally, it will improve public perception of the law enforcement community’s use of force techniques. Consideration should be given to designing augmentations for the currently used handcuff device while additionally exploring alternative technological options used for capturing and restraining suspects. The proposed solution must provide safe and secure suspect control thereby reducing injury to either party while decreasing potential law enforcement financial liabilities.

2.0 Scope (Capability Gap)

This capability gap was identified during the 2015 First Responder Resource Group (FRRG) annual conference as being relevant and necessary to law enforcement personnel. A proposed solution needs to give officers the same level of control as with the current handcuff, if not better, in order to limit potential risk. Resistive or violent suspect actions can lead to restrained subjects (in addition to officers) being harmed, which can promote the negative perception that the law enforcement community uses undue force when apprehending individuals.

The primary objective is to safely and securely restrain the suspect in a way that prohibits them from harming themselves or others, while still allowing them the ability to walk, sit, and maintain enough physical capability to follow officer direction. The device should allow officers to move an unconscious or combative suspect, and be operable (adjustable) for a wide range of body sizes and types. The solution must decrease the potential for mechanical failure in comparison to traditional handcuffs (e.g., lock breakage, double-lock failure, key risks, etc.), and be easily donned and doffed without requiring the suspect’s cooperation (i.e., the device should be able to be applied by one officer without looking and ideally one-handedly).

3.0 Period and Place of Performance

The period of performance shall be between 12 and 18 months from the date of the contact award.

All developmental activities will be performed at the contractor-designated site(s). DHS may require the contractor to perform critical design reviews and/or product presentations at DHS-specified locations.

4.0 Background

Today, handcuff technology is hampered by several design and operational issues including being difficult to apply, uncomfortable, subject to mechanical failure, and an easily replicable release key.

Due to the fact that basic handcuff design has not changed in 2,400 years1, the proposed solution should reflect technological innovation in the construction of a restraint system. Moreover, the number of officers required to put handcuffs on a combative person and the amount of time it takes increases the potential for harm or escape of the apprehended individual. The solution should allow for a single user to apply regardless of environment (hot/cold, dark/light, etc.), and size or body

1 See “A Brief History of Handcuffs,” http://www.aacounty.org/Detention/Training/Resources/Handcuffs.pdf.

http://www.aacounty.org/Detention/Training/Resources/Handcuffs.pdf habitus. Studies indicate that physiological harm may be caused to restrained individuals from the over-tightening of handcuffs, resulting in hand numbness, weakness, tingling, and superficial radial nerve damage, resulting in serve to permanent damage2 Given the new technology that is available, these situations can easily be avoided.

5.0 Functional Requirements

5.1 Overall Concept of Operations

Conceptually, the proposed restraining system should be applied without difficulty by a single officer, on a compliant detainee, irrespective of physical size, their ability to see when applying, and if possible, by using only a single hand. The solution should work regardless of environmental condition (heat, cold, daylight, nighttime, etc.) or resistive efforts of the detainee. The device must be light-weight (i.e., comparable to current handcuffs) and be comfortably worn on a duty uniform without adding undue physical strain or restriction of movement. It must be able to be stored in a vehicle without damage due to temperature or other external conditions.

A potential improvement to current concept of operations (CONOPS) is to design a keyless restraint system, further limiting the need for the arresting officer to be present when a suspect requires medical treatment either at a medical center or in an emergency medical response transport vehicle.

Since physical altercations often occur during and/or after a suspect is restrained, the proposed solution should provide fewer opportunities for violence (e.g., reduce the risk of the device being used as a weapon against the officer or others). Any keyless solution, if electrically based, should have a secondary release in the event of battery or electronics failure.

5.2 Threat

The major risk for not developing an alternative solution is to allow for the continuation of existing problems. The potential for sustaining injuries, either by the officer or the suspect, would remain high unless a new device is developed. Of secondary concern is the public’s perception to the amount of force utilized by the law enforcement community when apprehending suspects.

Any solution produced must provide security for the officer and control of the subject. Restraining the subject’s arms behind their back works effectively for the officer’s security, but may be problematic for the subjects’ range of mobility. Possibilities to consider would be different hand placement for the subject’s comfort, however alternative options must primarily focus on the officer’s safety.

5.3 Operating Constraints (Current Technology Shortfalls)

There are multiple challenges with currently used handcuff devices, including size limitations (one size does not fit all), locking failures, and handcuffs are generally difficult to apply and are uncomfortable to wear. The unlocking mechanism of handcuffs while on a suspect are often hard to access and require additional officer manipulation. Injuries incurred from use of handcuffs have led

2 US National Institute of Health, National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information “A Prospective Study of Handcuff Neuropathies,” Grant AC & Cook AA, Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, 2000 Jun;23(6):933-8. PubMed ID: 10842271:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10842271.

to many, often expensive, lawsuits directed at the local law enforcement community, resulting in an added financial strain and tarnished public reputation. Handcuffs are often known to be used as weapons by suspects being restrained. This occurs when only a single cuff has been attached, leaving the suspect capable of inflicting harm to an officer while additionally providing them an opportunity to escape. The proposed solution should provide greater control while reducing physiological and psychological harm.

5.4 Specific Required Capabilities

5.4.1 Operation

If the solution is an improved handcuff that operates similarly to handcuffs currently in use, then the proposed solution will reduce the amount of training required to operate the restraint. If the solution is another type of restraint, it should require the same amount of training needed to apply handcuffs.

5.4.2 Functionality

Key required functional characteristics for the proposed restraint solution are:

• Must be light-weight (e.g., equal to or less than standard handcuffs) and comfortably worn by law enforcement responder on their duty uniform without adding undue physical strain or restriction of movement;

• Must be able to be applied by one officer and without line of sight required;

• Must be able to be stored in a vehicle without changing the solution’s properties due to temperature fluctuations or other external conditions;

• Must meet or exceed current handcuff performance standard, if handcuff technology is used in the proposed solution;

• Must reduce potential harm to the suspect (physiological and to the officer involved in the suspect capture and restraint;

• Design should minimize a suspect’s ability to harm self or others, while still allowing the ability to walk, sit, and maintain enough physical capability to follow directions. The device must allow movement of suspects who are unconscious or resisting arrest;

• Must be operable by officers and intended for suspects in a wide range of body sizes;

• Must have a lower mechanical failure rate than handcuffs currently in use.

Ideally, the technology should also endeavor to meet these additional requirements:

• Reduce injury;

• Applied with one hand; and

• Include an advanced special-use restraint feature for combative subjects (Combative

Restraint).

5.4.3 System Characteristics

The functional and operational physical characteristic requirements for the proposed solution are:

• Able to be carried on a duty uniform for the full length of a typical work shift (8-12 hours) without adding undue physical stain, fatigue, or discomfort;

• Able to be applied by a single officer of any size or body habitus and without suspect assistance;

• Should allow for single hand application without the need for the officer to see; and

• Resistant to defeat by the suspect or the environment (e.g, suspect’s use of a seatbelt to snap off the handcuff, or the handcuff being used as a weapon).

5.5 System Performance

5.5.1 Mission Scenarios

Conceptually, the use of this technology in the field would be the same as current-day capture and restraining system use.

5.5.2 Compatibility and Interoperability

The product must integrate with the standard law enforcement duty uniform without adding excessive weight or bulk. Officers need to be able to learn how to use the device (affixing and removing) without adding to normal tactical restraint training. The restraint must be able to be applied by officers and used on suspects regardless of their size while allowing for use without a suspect’s active assistance. The device must be able to be removed by various law enforcement agencies.

5.5.3 Human Interface Requirements

The proposed solution must be hypo-allergenic, comfortable to wear, easy to use, and ideally be applied with one hand.

5.5.4 Alert Requirements

If feasible (dependent on the solution) the device should have an alert component to identify when the restraint system is beginning to fail (e.g., include a Service-Life indicator and an alarm when the restraint is not completely activated), or a low battery/power alert if it is electronically based.

5.5.5 Logistics and Readiness

The technology shall be able to be used by first responders daily while performing their normal duties.

5.5.6 Durability

The product shall meet US National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Standard-0307.01for Metallic Handcuffs if applicable. Suspects should not be able to defeat the device. The solution’s toughness or resilience will be dependent on whether it is a single-use or a multi-use system. If multi-use, it should be serviceable for several years. Indicators of excessive wear or potential failure should be observable.

5.6 System Support

5.6.1 Maintenance

All maintenance for the proposed solution and any related equipment shall be defined by the manufacturer, including: the required maintenance schedule, identification of the specific components of the ensemble that require maintenance and the type of maintenance required. In addition, determine whether the maintenance can be performed in the field or if it will require return to the manufacturer for maintenance. It shall be cleanable, and able to be decontaminated.

5.6.2 Capabilities and Limitations

The capabilities and limitations of the solution shall be made apparent to all users. This includes special cleaning procedures or storage conditions that are required to preserve the protective properties of the equipment. The proposed solution’s wear, maintenance and care must be compatible with other restraint devices currently in use.

5.6.3 Supply

Supply shall be determined by the individual departments based upon cost, quantity needed, and effectiveness of the solution.

5.7 Training

The solution shall not require any additional training beyond what is currently required for tactical restraining.

5.8 Storage

The device shall be able to be stored with no special conditions (standard and normal environments).

5.9 System Affordability

According to the FRRG, a national subject matter expert body that has representation from all major first responder disciplines, recommend that the unit cost should ideally be no greater than the cost of currently used restraint technology.

5.10 Certification Requirements for Product Conformity

This proposed solution must meet NIJ Standard 0307.01 for Metallic Handcuffs, if it is a modification to the current handcuff. If it is a new technology, the solution could set performance standards.