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Phoenix Police Make Loudspeaker Systems Purchase

Thanks to the approval from the Phoenix City Council, local police can now use devices that will assist officials during emergency situations with crowd control and instruction. 

The two LRAD-500X loudspeaker systems will cost $95,000 in full.

When it comes to the use of the long-range hailing devices, officers must first be trained in using the systems before using them in public. There will also be a written policy and guidelines that outlines whom the devices can be used.


According to Sgt. Mercedes Fortune, the speaker systems will “provide an ability to give clear and concise messages to groups of people whenever we find it necessary to communicate with them. It could be during a critical incident. Monsoons, sometimes, there’s an area that need to be evacuated. That’s what we’re looking to use as well with large crowds.” 

Select community members have voiced their concerns that the products could be weaponized and continued to do so at a city council meeting on Tuesday.

Some in the community were concerned that the devices could be weaponized and said so at Tuesday’s council meeting. 

Fortune assured that will “absolutely not” happen, and the police department already has a smaller version of the device. 

The LRAD website states that the Army and Navy use the company’s system on “small vessels and vehicles,” and it is effective up to approximately 2,200 yards.

The U.S. Department of Health’s National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders stated that people exposed to noises at or above 85 decibels can experience ear damage that may not necessarily be permanent. Sirens average 120 decibels.

To ensure that volume levels don’t lead to long-term hearing loss, Fortune said that officers will be required to confirm they are at a safe distance from the crows prior to utilizing the system.