The Value of Less Lethal Weapons in Public Safety

Less-Lethal Weapons (LLWs) have been a topic of debate in law enforcement, with much of the literature focusing on their legality and convenience rather than their effectiveness, in particular for police agencies. To address this gap, this study employs advanced financial risk analytics and scenario simulation to model the return on investment (ROI) of LLWs usage. By using a type of LLW (The Alternative) as a case study, the results suggest that while extreme events in LLW occur relatively infrequently compared to conventional firearms, their impact on society is significant. For instance, police agencies can have ROI between 1564% and 2728%. For each dollar invested in acquiring, equipping, and training an officer with LLWs, the added benefit is seen between USD$16 and USD$28. Hence, LLWs not only reduce collateral damage, reputational and legal risk, but also prevent unnecessary deaths which erode police legitimacy and public trust.