The Expandable Baton —Still an Irreplaceable Tool

Expandable Batons have been used by law enforcement and security agencies for decades, but with advances in technology—and increasingly burdened duty belts or vests—some officers and agencies question whether they can do without them. In my long career as a law enforcement officer, I’ve seen many tools come and go, and I’ve talked to old-timers who’ve pointed out that the world of standing between good and evil is cyclical. Each generation (understandably) thinks it can do things better than those who came before. Sometimes that’s the case; but many other times, we are wise to rely on tools and tactics that have been proven reliable and effective over time.

My experience as both an officer and a trainer is that the expandable baton is an exceptional and essential use of force tool. Here are some of the reasons:

• Versatility: If you are going to fill your hands during a fight, you had better be sure the tool is the right one for the job. And I maintain that an expandable baton is the most versatile use of force tool available. It can be carried in plain clothes or full duty gear. It can be used up close without extending (what we call “closed mode”) or expanded to use at distance (“open mode”). It is not a binary on/off tool, so the officer has the ability to quickly escalate or de-escalate as the situation dictates. 

• Simplicity: The baton is a very simple tool, meaning that effective training doesn’t have to be complex or time consuming. When used in the real world, critical processing time and energy isn’t consumed by deploying or operating the tool. This leads to a better chance of quality decision-making. 

Simplicity also means reliability and reduced chance of failure. Conducted Energy Weapons (CEWs) and OC are great force options, but uncontrollable factors (subject’s clothing, wind, rain/humidity and more) can render them ineffective. Additionally, both CEWs and OC have the potential risk of self-exposure and/or operating failure, which can obviously be counterproductive—or much worse—in a critical situation. The simplicity of the baton makes it virtually failsafe in the hands of a well-trained officer. 

• Deterrence: Dynamically deploying an expandable baton is a clear warning and proven psychological deterrent. Many people compare it to “racking a 12 gauge” in terms of its ability to make someone think twice. This deterrent effect alone has prevented the need to escalate, and gained subject compliance, countless times. We can all agree that compliance through mere show of force is the most ideal outcome of all in the world of defensive tactics. 

• Lifesaving: This is one you may have never thought or been aware of. Unlike any other weapon on the duty belt, the expandable baton can also be used as a lifesaving extrication tool. A baton—especially with an attached glass breaking accessory—makes quick work of automobile safety glass, and many lives are saved each year thanks to officers using this tool. As advanced as other use of force options may be, this is one critical and common situation where they are of no use. 

Summing it up, the expandable baton is a uniquely versatile use of force tool that’s easy to carry, easy to train with, simple to use and unlikely to functionally fail. It can deter a subject and de-escalate an encounter, and can be used to break glass and save lives in exigent situations. All the equipment we carry has value, or we wouldn’t be carrying it. But no one tool offers as wide a spectrum of use as the trusty baton. It has been for years, and remains, an essential law enforcement asset.