Phoenix approves powerful, controversial $95K LRAD speaker

The Phoenix City Council on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for police to buy a $95,000 pair of high-powered and at-times controversial devices they say will help communicate with large crowds.

In a 7-to-1 vote, elected officials approved the purchase of the Long Range Acoustic Device, and a new written policy outlining when, how and by whom the sound instrument can be used.

Councilwoman Vania Guevara opposed the measure, citing concerns about the written policy and excessive-force fears expressed by nearly a dozen community members at the meeting. Safety concerns have mounted over a single LRAD function — the potentially painful alert siren — that some said could be abused by local law enforcement.

Police brass came to the table in October with a new policy they said should allay concerns that the LRAD could or ever would be "weaponized."

"Under no circumstances will the department take any steps to weaponize the LRAD to inflict harm upon the public," officials wrote in their policy manual. "Misuse of the LRAD shall be subject to discipline."

Police also spelled out in writing that trained officers must verify set-back distances to ensure decibel levels do not exceed 113 decibels for the "intended target listener." Tones "will only be used to gain the attention of the public when they do not respond/comply with the voice messages."

Chief Jeri Williams and others in law enforcement have stressed the devices would be most helpful to communicate with large groups of people during protests, marches, special events or emergency evacuations.

A division chief could authorize its use at other events, and anyone who operates the device — exclusively 15 tactical officers — must be trained and certified to use it.

Police said the department's coupling of written policy with specific training positioned Phoenix ahead of other cities including New York City and Pittsburgh that have come under fire for their use of the LRAD.

Use of the LRAD will also be subject to an annual review.

PD: System needed for communication

The purchase of the LRAD first came up in a city subcommittee meeting in June, and officials requested additional information. The item was brought back for a September subcommittee meeting but was removed from council documents in the lead-up to the meeting, apparently after multiple media reports about the request.

Williams previously said the system was needed to better communicate with crowds in the aftermath of President Donald Trump's 2017 rally in downtown Phoenix. Protesters did not hear directions to disperse from a smaller LRAD-100X device as the demonstration devolved, and it was difficult to understand where police were directing those who lingered.

That contributed to the chaos that included police deploying tear gas, smoke grenades and other projectiles on the crowd — actions now the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

Police have also said they struggled to communicate with thousands of protesters who marched earlier this year in the #RedForEd demonstrations.

"This system," Williams said in a June meeting, "will allow us to communicate to our community members accurate and timely information so that they can make decisions and we can direct them to go different places if things get rough downtown or anywhere in our city."

The upgrade authorized Wednesday is for the LRAD-500X, a vehicle-mounted device that "meets and exceeds" all needs, police officials said.

It would be purchased directly from the vendor, LRAD Corp.

Tempe police bought the same model device about six years ago.

Specifics about the device

The model Phoenix police will purchase tops out at about 154 decibels, though the manufacturer says it can be started at a lower level and cranked up at an officer's discretion. It weighs 44 pounds and "is the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army's acoustic hailing device of choice for small vessels and vehicles."

For comparison, a jet engine at 100 feet hits 140 decibels — enough to injure unprotected ears. Hearing loss becomes possible when exposed to prolonged sounds reaching 100 decibels, which is about as loud as a chainsaw or lawnmower.

The key, police and health experts say, is the duration of the sound.

The siren function would be brief, police said.

The LRAD device Phoenix will buy has two main settings: The first acts as a megaphone of sorts, and the second emits a pain-inducing, high-pitched siren that has left crowds scrambling for earplugs or running for cover.

On its website, LRAD Corp. advertises its devices as tools used to warn and notify crowds, establish safety zones, prevent misunderstandings and "alleviate the use of force."

The American Civil Liberties Union, however, has identified LRAD devices as "sonic weapons" capable of causing permanent hearing loss.

In large, bold and underlined type, the company says on its website that "LRAD is not a weapon; LRAD is a highly intelligible, long-range communication system and a safer alternative to kinetic force."

Viri Hernandez, executive director of Poder in Action, on Wednesday criticized the city's handling of the uptick in police shootings. Purchasing the LRAD, she said, sent a dangerous message to Phoenix residents.

“This weapon for us is a clear attack and continuation of a culture of violence that is within the police department, a culture that has caused mistrust with the community," Hernandez said Wednesday. "The community does not trust this department.”

Reach the reporter at 602-444-8515, jpohl@azcentral.com or on Twitter: @pohl_jason.

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