Improving Searches With Handheld Metal Detectors

Improving Searches With Handheld Metal Detectors

Subject: Improving Searches With Handheld Metal Detectors

Technology has affected the way police officers conduct business for many years, more prevalently in the past ten years with the implementation of computers in squad cars and advancements in less than lethal weapons. Hand held metal detectors, around for many years, can be a powerful tool when searching a suspect incident to an arrest. They have proven effectiveness, efficiency and increase officer safety.
Effectiveness
Detectors are successfully being used at airports, public buildings and military installations. Handheld metal detectors can detect very small metal objects such as a bobby pin or a handcuff key and they can also detect masses on people. A metal detector cannot differentiate dangerous weapons or common everyday items. Its value lies in its ability to alert officers to the presence of metal items. It is then up to the officer to determine whether the item is a weapon or dangerous item. A metal detector used as a search tool plays an important ancillary function. It is not intended to replace vigilance. Nothing replaces a well thought-out and implemented system for searching a person. A metal detector helps detect items that may go unnoticed by the most careful and well-trained officer.
Efficiency
The added function of scanning a subject would not delay the process of searching and would save lives.   Easy to use, they have a long battery life of up to 200 hours; rechargeable detectors are also available. Most are made of lightweight shock resistant ABS plastic with different sensitivity settings. The cost of a high quality detector is on average less than $200, a small price to pay for knowing detainee is free of weapons.
Increased Safety
Current procedures of manually searching by hand used by police departments in the United States for searching a suspect incident to an arrest are very effective and detect weapons and contraband in most cases. However, in some cases suspects...