Pepper spray is one of those things I didn’t think I would ever carry before I did police academy. After experiencing it I realized just how disorienting it can be, and I’ve always carried it since starting patrol.

OC still has a place in law enforcement. Have used it more effectively than tasers in certain situations.

i respect your opinion however i carry it since i’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it since it’s a small can i can easily fit on my belt

It's a great tool in prisons and jails. We use it to break up fights, to stop riots like you mentioned, to prevent staff assaults, to conduct cell extractions through level 3 area OC exposure, and get get a resisting subject to cuff up or to comply. A lot of us Correctional Officers are exposed to OC so much that we are used to area contamination. So far, the Fox labs OC I carry every day has had a 100 percent success rate in gaining immediate compliance after deployment. Some departments may not allow Fox, but if it is an option, I highly recommend it. This was a great video.

I love OC, it works 99% of the time whereas Tasers are 50% at best.

Honestly, I still carry OC on my belt. It is small enough (MK3 can) to not be in the way, and it is an additional tool that I can use.

As a Prison Officer in HMP, we now carry PAVA. Amazing tool for crowd control and using it to keep distance in general. However inside such units, the cross fire is as fun as you can imagine.

you get a dose 👆, You get a dose! 👈, YOU get a dose! 👆 _Everybody_ gets a dose of O.C. spray!

Spare a thought for those of us who have mandatory carry

I work for a medium-sized municipal agency in Arizona, and we are required to carry pepper spray and tasers, but not batons. We aren't issued batons but are trained in both the expandable and side handle PR-24 and can carry them if we want to. The city I work in is Phoenix adjacent and some of it is very urban and some is very rural, and some is suburban. Early on in my career, I was voluntold to join our riot squad but have stayed on it since, and I was deployed for days at a time during the Floyd riots. I have been trained in not only OC, riot baton/shield, but every less lethal munition you can fire from a launcher that you can think of. I am personally a big fan of OC spray. I have used the MK9s for riot control to great effect, I have deployed OC on combative subjects on the street and on barricaded subjects inside of structures, including cars. For regular patrol use I carry the Sabre Red MK4 stream. When deploying it on combative subjects it has only ever been when it is just me and them. Tasers are great but I don't trust them without a backup officer present because they are routinely defeated by clothing, I have yet to encounter someone that can fight through OC spray, but its also rare that I even have to spray, tase, or hit someone because I know how to talk to people. The most important skill any officer can have is their conversational skills. Your brain and mouth will get you farther than anything else, your tools should be for when that doesn't work although some people leave you no choice but to go to your tools.

At my current agency they require we carry all 3 less lethals to "not limit our oprions". Personally, I love OC and it is right up front on my belt. At my last agency however it was optional. So I kept my OC. I didn't carry my X2 or ASP.

I work in a smaller city where it is incredibly common to have a semi-feral dog that “almost” belongs to you. These people have nearly zero control over their dogs and they will bite a responding officer. Dogs constitute like 98% of my OC uses.

I worked armed security for a huge homeless shelter in texas 32 acree big 5,000 plus people and OC was the only none leathel we had it seems to work better then the tazers PD had

As a Corrections Officer I’ve seen OC spray be wayyy more effective than a taser. But that’s just my .02

As an armed security officer my company doesnt allow me to carry a baton or a taser due to potential liability. OC spray is the only less lethal option I have.

Be aware OCs or pepper spray over time can degrade or wear down. I'd replace the OC after 3-5yr. Check the label or company. I prefer stream sprays over fog, gel.

29 years LEO bas MP & Fed (now retired) and found OC a fantastic tool, if you use it soon enough. Yes, there’s cross contamination, but it’s much better in many situations than taser or baton.

I believe in having options. Anything to avoid pulling the trigger.

I prefer OC over the Taser and feel it offers more flexibility - crowd management, multiple subjects, multiple applications, dogs etc with significantly less chance of injury. I’ve lucked out in that the times I’ve had to use OC, it worked well. Even if someone has reduced sensitivity to pain, most will be visually impaired. I think the key is picking the right formulation and delivery system for your needs. Some agencies are still issuing sprays with 0.2% Major Capsaicinoids. Most are going to sprays that have 1.33% like Sabre Red or First Defense 1.3. Those offer more rapid and intense effects. Cross contamination is reduced with training (don’t spray with multiple officers around the subject, don’t spray in the polyester pile) and one has to understand what OC does and doesn’t do. It is not meant to “incapacitate” a subject, although it certainly seems like many subjects are incapacitated after successful deployment. It’s meant to create a pause in combat or distraction. A lot of the bad rep OC had over the years was from OC products with poor quality controls and a pungency level similar to capsaicin based arthritic pain rubs. Sabre Red and First Defense 1.3 I can vouch are both very effective on most subjects.

I carried oc when driving a cab and doing repossession work. It came in handy on occasion

OC spray is effective. However, if you want something that takes the fight out of a subject, then I recommend OC spray with CS gas combined, works fantastic. Sabre makes this formulation.

A lot of agencies in Minnesota are switching to a brand called REPULS. It basically affects the eyes and skin with the burn feeling, but 0 breathing affects so it only affects who its on. The decontamination also only needs 1/2 a bottle of water and its done. Doesn’t re- activate. Pretty nifty.

My department uses a lot of OC. Our most common method is with somebody who is actively fighting but we have some level of control, and the third officer sprays some on a rubber glove and rubs it in the suspects face. Minimizes contamination, and works great.

General guidance. Follow your policy and applicable laws. Different roles, different tools. Ounces equal pounds the longer you work. Use of force in my area all less then lethal are same levels of force. Oc baton taser fist same thing. Use whatever is effective and legal for the situation. Never not use something or do something due to optics. If you do, eventually you are going to be hurt or killed. Stay safe.

I have used my OC SPRAY Mark 3 safe life defense for 25 years now. It works better than my X-2 taser. I use my ASP now and then. I miss using my PR-24. I took off my taser.

Thank you for sharing

Speaking as someone who was a big city repossessor and private investigator for almost 20 years in some of the most dystopian ghettos in America, pepper spray is absolutely awesome as long as your goal is not to take the other person in custody. Pepper spray is great for citizens and not so great for cops. I particularly like the combination cs/oc sprays.

O/C has been great when working 1up.

Not sure what department you are with but just about every department I know of, including mine, still carries OC. TASERs are great, until they don't work which is about 50% of the time. If you train with OC and use it appropriately, its a great tool.

It fits my budget nicely. Thx For the video Tommy.

When the taser became really popular, bunch of the motor cops stopped carrying their baton. They bought into the whole idea that the taser is the end all beat all solution because they have seen it work so many times. Now and days cops still want to rely on it but stopped carrying their pepperspray. IMO with how many times I have seen the taser fail and pepperspray work, I will continue to rely on pepperspray as an option but to always remember to transition as the less lethal option fails.

I am Canadian as a security guard I am carrying Saber dog spray

I've had extreme success with my MK4, MK9, MK 46 in a Correctional environment.

When i was on a dept. I was sprayed with oc. I carried all the time. I now have saber . Gell with blue dye. Have no problem recommending it.

So a different perspective here. When I used pepper spray (CDCR), many time it was on more than one perpetrator. That is it's niche. Though I never used a Taser, the problem was if you were to tase one guy, well someone is going to come to his aid, or in a at least one circumstance I was involve in the taser failed.

Wait what? I teavel reguarly around the nation and almost every cop i run into has OC. They just dont seem to keep ot on a belt location that is readily available. I think most cops now keep OC simply for dogs. Its probably a reguonal thing. Does OC work less effectively in cold, dry areas? I live in the south east and OC works bery well (i worked armed awcurity for 7 years and OC was so.erhing i reguarly used for dealing woth dogs and largw unruly crowds). Btw i found your videos 7 years ago and youre legit a major factor into why i progressed through the ranks at my job and also why i realized i wasnt fit to be an officer.

They still carry OC in my city.

Carried OC for years on the job and never used it except on an attacking dog. Worked well on the dog.

From watching Active Self Protection, it seems like Tasers have about a 50% effectiveness rate but OC spray is nearly always effective at taking the fight out of someone. A quick blast of OC can knock the resistance out of them as their face is now on metaphorical fire. Since the Taser is the new hotness it's what everyone wants to use. Both Tasers and OC have their uses and it's worth carrying both. If you use spray OC instead of fog it's less likely to get blown back.

I'm big fan of OC spray but it has it's limitations. It works when applied correctly in the right situation. It's also effective on dogs if you spray their nose. I prefer it over shooting a dog. I currently don't work patrol anymore, so I don't carry it anymore. Also the police in my country don't carry a taser. Only special response teams have it. We just get Oc, baton and a firearm.

My agency requires me to carry it on my duty belt. I would opt out if I was allowed to

I think it’s foolish to limit your options.

I'm a civilian, but carry OC along with my sidearm. It would do something in an encounter, if you can get it on the face. Or alternately, it may render an interior space uninhabitable for a few minutes. If you just get it on skin or clothes, especially outdoors, its not worth much IMO. I've tried a couple, Sabre Red, the green one whatever that is, and currently another one. I buy the most expensive, best rated ones in a stream configuration. When the expiration on the can arrives I replace them and also take the opportunity to spray some on my arm or leg to see what I feel. Its basically nothing. A kerosene type smell and a slowly building heat that becomes mildly uncomfortable over a couple minutes. Wouldn't stop me from engaging with someone if I was a bad guy at all. I haven't tried getting it on my face and I'm sure that would be MUCH worse. To sum up if its not in the eyes or being inhaled its sort of worthless, at least that's my experience.

We use Sabre phantom

I still have OC on my belt. I know officers who dont. To each their own. I got my start as a college police officer. Pepper spray helps shorten large fights at sporting events.

I carried a stick and then was forced to either carry oc or a taser. I took the taser but i also knew that it is only 40% effective.

What's your take on pepperball guns for LE or personal self defence?

Jesus I just got sprayed today in the academy and easily the worst experience I could imagine.

Used it ONCE, never again. It's not that it doesn't work (it doesn't some times but it does a lot).... It's because then YOU have to put your hands on them, and now You're Being exposed to it, especially if they are resisting. We're required to carry the Foam/Gel, but I never use it. Even with that stuff, it gets all over. Only time I'd use it is riot control (ERT Team) and we have on respirators. Besides, my dept, like many, Once you OC some one, we are prohibited from using Taser. If we're going hands on, we're going hands on. Tasers fail, and OC SUCKS to fight in.

It's because partners keep spraying each other 😂😂

Took OC off my belt six years ago. I primarily work the expressway in a windy plains state. Doesn't usually work out well. Still carry baton and TASER. A simple display of TASER gets me compliance. Anyone who doesn't comply with that normally won't comply after getting OC'd either. If TASER is successfully deployed we might even get them secured while their muscles are locked. I'll save my eyes, any assisting units eyes, limited belt space, and my back.

I personally don’t carry it on my belt because no one wins with OC. I’ve been in fights and another deputy will pop OC now we’re still fighting but we’re all blind. I keep it in the door for aggressive dogs but as far as people go it’s a nope.

I carry it every day

i’m currently in college and debating getting a masters afterwards. but i’m very interested in law enforcement. all of it. can’t decide between a local PD or a “bigger picture” position in maybe the CIA or FBI. i speak 4 languages fluently and have a lot of travel history and both my parents work with the federal government (FAA and SBA) any advice from anyone? thanks.

Lets say it ! You don't carry it because you was train to kill first and ask questions later ( all for the officers safety ) . Having an OC spray on you an not using it before murdering 15yo kid would raise a questions in court room. Lawyer - " why didn't you use OC spray before reaching for your gun?" Cop - "Because they teach me to kill first , for my own safety of course"

As an unarmed security officer I carry a can of mace brand pepper gel. What’s the difference between a Gel based spray and a “regular” chemical spray?

OC spray (suspect repellent) is far better than a stupid Taser or ASP (expandable) baton. Those batons are worthless. The Taser is about as worthless as a water ballon for police work. I’ve seen the taser fail more often than not. I preferred my Gonzales 415 sap and a straight stick, once my employer reauthorized them and after nearly 40 years of the PR-24.

Different missions, different tool-sets. I have a Mk3 anytime I'm wearing trousers. That, along with a higher-velocity tool, one each "oh, crap, I'm bleeding a lot" and "you're bleeding a lot" kits, light, blade and lighter. Pants-on, tools-on. But the OC is mission-driven when my purpose is to break contact. It's kept me out of emergency department and any paperwork on three separate occasions. Call me any names you like but, barring other considerations, I'm gonna beat feet, in lieu of a fight.

OC has definitely saved my tail from dangerous dogs working.

Exactly! Where you are it just doesn't make sense. Most departments just go full on lethal force anyway nowadays.

Did you say a guy hiding behind a furnish? This stuff highly flammable lol

10 year former correctional officer and I watched OC be ineffective too many times to ever trust it. One of my co workers got his hand broken because a guy took a whole can to the face who was not effected nearly as much as he was. Blinded and choked himself while the other guy attacked him almost unbothered. Being able to force compliance from outside of a cell was the best use I found, highly combative individuals refusing to be cuffed through the slot, you can apply it multiple times if needed and eventually the adrenalin wears off and they get tired of being in pain. OC has some uses but I agree they are niche.

Freeze +P is very VERY effective on aggressive dogs. And using it doesn’t result in a UOR being written. 🤫

In animal control, its best not to leave home without it.

Im plain clothes basically

carry skunk spray, instead 😄

It depends on the brand too. The brand that you have First Defense is crap. The only 2 companies that make OC that is reputable is Sabre and Fox Labs.

We are required per policy to carry OC. I have never used it. Never threatened it. I just hate it so much that I don't want to use it and have it come back on me