Aegis Strongly Supports Common Sense Policies Regarding Stun Devices.

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Aegis Industries strongly endorses the new guidelines that were adopted last week by the Melbourne Police and Brevard County Sheriff's Office in Florida regarding stun devices. Other local law enforcement agencies also plan to review or gradually phase in these new guidelines that were recommended last week by an association of Brevard County police chiefs. The Melbourne Police and Brevard County Sheriff's Office are the latest departments to join a growing number of agencies nationwide that are using a common sense approach in their utilization of stun devices.

Recently police departments in Austin, Texas and Mesa, Arizona also implemented similar guidelines under which their officers can deploy stun devices. The decisions by all of these agencies to update their use of force policies regarding the deployment of these devices is in line with the recommendations suggested by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) (http://www.iacp.org/research/rcdcuttingedgetech.htm).

"Aegis would like to recognize the Brevard County Chiefs of Police Association for recognizing the need to establishing safer guidelines for stun devices by restricting their deployment in certain situations," remarked Kenneth J. Stethem, CEO, Aegis Industries. "These guidelines demonstrate a common sense approach and responsible consideration for more the sensitive populations. They will also go a long way to reaching out to the growing public concern and media attention," said Stethem.

Several of the new policy changes will include restrictions for the use of stun devices on pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and the disabled. The new guidelines will also limit the number of times an individual can be stunned. "The adoption of these new policies is an important first step by law enforcement agencies nationwide, and will help the officers within those agencies to determine when the use of these devices is appropriate in order to limit excessive use and abuse of the technology as well as to promote public trust," said Stethem. Aegis has strongly advocated adoption of similar guidelines and sponsored a recent conference at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies on the uncertainties of stun devices and their placement on the force continuum (www.potomacinstitute.org).

"Although the placement of stun devices on the force continuum has yet to be standardized, I believe that these devices should, at the very minimum, be placed at an elevated position on the force continuum. The change of policies in Brevard County, Austin and Mesa confirm that law enforcement agencies understand this position. I also believe that independent medical research and testing at all levels should be continued on these devices in order to have them properly assessed and standardized for public safety," continued Stethem. "After all, I think that everyone will agree that the medical studies should be completed prior to placing these devices lower on the force continuum, not after."

Aegis Industries, Inc. is the emerging market leader in the stun industry and specializes in the design and development of intermediate force options for the military, law enforcement, corrections, and the private security industry. You can learn more about Aegis Industries at www.aegispds.com.