The injury pattern of a new law enforcement weapon: The police bean bag

Study objective: This case series describes the injury pattern of the polic e bean bag, a new weapon adopted by US law enforcement agencies. Methods: Retrospective chart review between 1996 and 2000 identified bean b ag injuries. Autopsy data were gathered for 1 fatality. Circumstances of th e shootings, toxicology results, and psychiatric diagnoses, if any, were re corded. Results: Thirty-nine men and 1 woman between the ages of 16 and 77 years we re shot by officers of either the Los Angeles Police Department or the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department. The fatality was caused by massive hemothorax after thoracic penetration. The locations of serious penetrating injuries i ncluded the thoracic cavity, eye, abdomen, arm, and leg. Blunt injuries inc luded splenic rupture, pneumothorax, compartment syndrome, testicular fract ure, subcapsular liver hematoma, and cardiac contusion. Complications inclu ded hemothorax, pneumopericardium, wound infection, compartment syndrome, a nd osteomyelitis. Psychiatric consultation was requested for 27 (69.2%) of 39 surviving patients. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Diso rders, fourth edition (DSM-IV) Axis I was used for diagnosis in all 27 pati ents. Psychosis was diagnosed in 16 (59.3%), suicidal ideation in 15 (55.6% ), and major depression in 6 (22.2%) of the 27 cases. Schizophrenia had pre viously been diagnosed in 7 (25.9%) of the 27 cases. All but 1 of the patie nts had toxicology screenings performed, and the results of 29 (74.4%) of 3 9 were positive. Of these 29 positive results, 15 (51.7%) were positive for alcohol and 8 (27.6%) were positive for cocaine. Conclusion: Awareness of the broad scope of potential injuries mandates a t horough evaluation of both blunt and penetrating trauma in patients shot wi th police bean bags. The scope of these injuries raises significant public health considerations because use of this weapon has been adopted by law en forcement agencies in all 50 states and at least 10 countries.