Ottawa’s police force has purchased three high-decibel “sound cannons” that they say are intended for use in addressing huge crowds but have been used as sonic weapons in the U.S.
Acquired this spring and described by police as a “megaphone on steroids,” the “Long Range Acoustic Device” or LRAD can propel an officer’s voice up to 1.5 kilometres.
Sgt. Rob Bernier, co-ordinator of the force’s emergency operations directorate, says it’s possible future protests and public events may warrant the need for police to use these devices.
“Communication is a major challenge in major events and disasters,” says Bernier. “It becomes challenging to get (voice messages) both loud and clear enough to go the distance you need.”
Along with the city’s recent Major Events Policy, LRADs are part of a larger effort by police and city officials to modernize and improve police procedures with respect to what police call “public order operations.”
Other large-city police forces have had LRADs for a few years now. Although not used during the 2010 G20 protests in Toronto, the police had LRADs on hand in case they were needed.
As the capital, Ottawa sees scores of major demonstrations every year.
“Some of them are a bit more volatile than others, and sometimes it would have been really nice to provide some direction to the crowd,” says Bernier, pointing to the 2011 Occupy protests as an example.
Ottawa Police now have two LRAD 100xs and one LRAD 300x, all kept at the force’s Barrhaven station. Bernier says the 100x — small enough to be strapped to an officer’s chest — costs about $8,000, while the larger, 28-pound (12.7-kg) 300x costs about $18,000.
The manufacturer, California-based LRAD Corp., calls its product a “sonic weapon,” because it can also send out loud alarm tones that can be ear-piercing and incapacitating.
There are rules in place in Ontario that forbid the use of the LRAD as a sonic weapon. However, according to the Police Services Act section on acoustic hailing devices, “the use of an alarm or alert tone on an acoustic hailing device to get the attention of members of the public is communicating.”
Wendy Fedec, the executive director of the Ottawa Police Services Board, says the board made amendments to its policy on acoustic hailing devices earlier this year so that it is in line with the provincial rules regarding their use.
“It (the LRAD) can only be used as a communication device,” says Bernier.
Bernier says their procedure with respect to the LRAD’s “alarm” function is a brief three- to five-second tone, followed by a voice message.
But the LRAD is a powerful device, and there are valid health concerns with its use, police acknowledge.
If used improperly, sounds emitted by the LRAD could cause hearing damage or loss.
He says there are a handful of officers who attended a full day course on its use.
As an example of its power, Bernier says when the LRAD 300x is turned to full volume, no one can be within 75 metres of the device.
Mark Calzavara, regional manager of the Council of Canadians’ Toronto chapter, claims the LRAD was designed primarily as a weapon used to disperse people, pointing to the events that took place four years ago in Pittsburgh as an example.
Bernier says the LRAD can be used for marine search-and-rescue operations, where the 1.5 kilometre hailing distance could be particularly useful.
He says the LRAD can be used in other circumstances, as well: hostage situations, suicide attempts and tactical operations.