Fort Worth Police Test Pepper Ball Rounds for Less-Lethal Force

Testing Less-Lethal Force

• 🎯 Fort Worth Police Chief Eddie Garcia volunteered to be shot with a pepper ball round to demonstrate a new less-lethal use of force.
• 💡 The department is testing pepper ball ammunition as a non-lethal deescalation tool to provide officers with an alternative for safely detaining or controlling suspects.

Public Trust and Safety

• 💬 Director Bonsil Schulen also volunteered, expressing concern about public experience and gaining trust in the munition's impact.
• ✅ The goal is to safely take individuals into custody, ensuring both the officer and the suspect go home safely or to jail safely.

Future Implementation

• ⚠️ Chief Garcia stated that the department is in the early planning stages for implementing this less-lethal force option.
• 📜 Strict guidelines will be established for officers on how to use the pepper ball rounds if they are adopted.