Bomb Trainer
We've never seen anything quite like the Cyalume police explosive training simulators. These reusable tools can simulate the blast effects of a real bomb using compressed air reservoirs for the boom and chemical powder for smoke. The non-pyrotechnic devices are so safe that officers can even detonate a bomb vest while wearing one in training. The only protective gear necessary is hearing protection because the crack of these "bombs" hits about 140 decibels. It's also recommended that the devices be used outside because the powder/smoke really makes a mess. Cyalume is working on a way to simulate the flash of a bomb in future versions.
21st-Century Shotgun
If you were going to design a shotgun for a science-fiction movie, you'd probably conceive something like the Kel-Tec KSG. This bullpup pump shotgun has two magazine tubes and the capacity to carry 12 rounds of hurt. Features include an adjustable stock, a Picatinny rail for mounting the latest optics, and a rubber butt pad to minimize recoil. You can buy a cheaper shotgun, but you won’t find a cooler one.
X-Ray Vision
OK. The Range-R system from L-3 CyTerra won't give you Superman's ability to see through almost everything, but it will give you critical intelligence about what’s behind a wall or a door. Bulky, heavy, unwieldy through-the-wall radar systems have been available for more than a decade, but the Range-R is an example of the next generation of this technology; it's handheld. That makes the Range-R the smallest and lightest wall sensor available, and an extremely useful SWAT tool.
Early Warning System
The Chameleon from Morphix Technologies is essentially a "canary in the coal mine" for first responders. This easily worn hazardous chemical detection features inexpensive cassettes that change color when exposed to something nasty. The cost-effective Chameleon has been used for several years by the U.S. military but the company only recently started marketing it to law enforcement.
Rechargeable Pocket Light
We have long been fans of the Quiqlite. Invented by a police officer, this inexpensive ($22 to $50), hands-free, LED light is the answer to the officer's need to keep his or her hands available during a traffic stop. The new Quiqlite X is a much-improved product with a lot of cool new features. The Quiqlite X is rechargeable via a USB cable. Also, the new light has two Cree LEDs that can be operated individually. Other improvements include a timer that shuts off the light after 10 minutes to save battery time, a 360-degree rotating magnetic clip for numerous use options, and an anti-glare visor. The Quiqlite X is available in three versions: white LEDs, red and white LEDs, blue and white LEDs.
Palm-Sized Chemist
The RedXDefense XCAT is a handheld device that can reliably identify narcotics, explosives, and gunshot residue in the field. Scaled down from a military tool called the XPAK, the XCAT is easy to use and relatively inexpensive. All the operator has to do is select the test card that matches the suspected substance, then sample a trace amount of the substance. The chemistry happens in the machine, and the operator receives a simple "yes" or "no" via a red light/green light system.
Total Devastation
Some weapons and some ammunition give you the skin-crawling response of "Jeez, I wouldn't want to get hit with that." That's our response to the new Winchester Segmented Slug. This 12-gauge shot shell features a slug that’s kind of a hybrid between buckshot and a slug. Fired from 50 yards out, it performs like a slug. At 40 yards, it breaks into two pieces on impact. And at 30 yards or less, it's devastating, breaking into three pieces at impact. So it's like getting hit with three slugs at once. If you're worried about liability, Winchester has an answer for that, too. The Segmented Slug stays in one piece and flattens out when it hits barrier material such as glass or steel. Winchester says the Segmented Slug eliminates the need for officers to carry both slugs and buckshot. We don’t know about that, but we do know that this thing is going to absolutely ruin the day of anyone it hits at 30 yards or less.
