At 10:55 PM 1/12/02, Gary L. Nunn wrote: >Stephen asked: > > What exactly do "standard law enforcement shackles" consist of? And what > > training were you in? > > Just wondering, > > >I was a police officer for several years in a sleepy town on the >Indiana/Ohio border. I only did it part time - I could not afford the pay >cut to go full time, along with my full time job, but we had extensive >training. Part of our training consisted of arresting other trainees, >cuffing them, searching them and transporting them to the jail.
Of course, that's what I was thinking. I didn't for a second think you might have worked on a poultry ranch in Nevada (or as an independent contractor in that line of business) . . . >Here is a link that shows what I consider a "standard" set of law >enforcement shackles: http://www.leeco.com/page010.htm#Smith The Peerless >Belly Chain. Hmm. I didn't see anything on that web page that said that you have to prove that you are a law enforcement officer in order to order from them . . . >In many cases, leg restraints are added to this rig and attached to the >rings that you see around the body chain. I have even seen rigs where the >leg shackle is attached to the handcuff shackle and are dependent on each >other for movement. Sometimes they use a leather belt instead of the chain >around the waist and have another belt go under the crotch to prevent the >chain from sliding up the body and giving more hand freedom. This type of >rig also allows easy attachment to seats. Add an electric hoist and you have the rig the secretaries in "9 to 5" put their boss in . . . >Anyway, of course I am not 100% certain that this is the type that was used, >but I do know for certain that the military has used this type for prisoners >before. > >As you can see, the restraints are fairly restrictive, but yet they do allow >for some movement. Do you recall the video of Timothy McVeigh (or other domestic prisoners considered dangerous) being moved? IIRC, he was shackled hand and foot and the shackles were fastened to a waist chain, yet he could still walk under his own power. Someone with that much freedom of movement would be able, as someone suggested in another message, to attempt to chew through a hydraulic line to try to crash the plane, if he happened to be seated near enough to such a line. Also on this topic, when a defendant repeatedly interrupts his trial by shouting out in court, the judge has the option of having him restrained (shackled to the chair) and gagged (so he cannot shout). Comments? -- Ronn! :) God bless America, Land that I love! Stand beside her, and guide her Thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam� God bless America! My home, sweet home. -- Irving Berlin (1888-1989)
