WHY NIGHT VISION HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST A TACTICAL TOOL
The increase in demand for night vision devices is reaching far past traditional tactical teams as more and more specialty teams are seeing Night Vision Devices (NVD’s) as a crucial piece of operational equipment. Advancements in night vision technology and increased pressure in today’s climate is showing the value of having modern NVD’s available to your law enforcement agency.
No longer just a tool for tactical teams – night vision technology should be considered an essential and versatile tool for both mission success and officer safety. Currently, Gen 3 devices are the best in the market when it comes to night vision and give the clearest and brightest images, the best low-light performance, and the best resolution. They also come with an operational lifetime capacity of up to 10,000 hours, doubling that of Gen 2. The addition of white phosphorus technology also improves optical clarity, contrast and give a more natural image than the traditional green. This is very important when it comes to identification and situational awareness, which is paramount for law enforcement.
NVD’s not only help in identifying targets but also improving officer safety by giving officers the upper hand in nighttime or low light scenarios. Traditional flashlights/white light can add unnecessary risk of exposing officers by revealing their location. With night vision, officers can remain obscured at their allotted position.
LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAMS THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY:
SURVEILLANCE
On top of the ability to continue the operation after dark, NVD’s help in covert surveillance when an individual’s appearance and facial characteristics must be discerned to identify the individual. This is opposed to thermal devices that would struggle differentiating people and objects. Paired with a camera and lenses as part of your surveillance kit, NVDs allow for better, clearer records in court for identification purposes.
PUBLIC ORDER
The increase in occupational style protests have resulted in new challenges for public order teams when operating at night. Public Order teams cannot lose overwatch when the sun goes down and NVD’s allow units to properly monitor activity throughout the night, scan for threats and identify possible weapons.
CONTAINMENT
Night Vision can play a critical role in successful operations for containment teams. NVD’s can help officers with coordination and deployment in low-light scenarios. The ability to see in low-light scenarios increases intelligence on the situation and provides scope/context for the situation. The addition of beacons can also be deployed for an even greater level of detail. For example, one team can have an IR strobe while the other can have a constant beam.
search & rescue
Every minute counts when it comes to search and rescue, and teams cannot afford to be racing against the sun. NVDs give search teams the ability to double their operational capacity, allowing teams to search day and night. IR markers can once again be used to increase efficiency by marking positions and indicating areas that have already been searched.
MARITIME
Often overlooked aspect when it comes to night vision is its use in the marine operation environment, whether DFO, border security or law enforcement. White light can only travel so far, an NVD (especially paired with an IR illuminator) can greatly aid when it comes to smuggling interdiction, customs enforcement and other boat operations.
There are countless examples of the effectiveness of Night Vision Devices. A tactical team in Ontario successfully used Night Vision to great effect when responding to a firearm related domestic violence incident.
Over the course of the argument between husband and wife, the intoxicated husband got increasingly aggravated to the point of pulling a firearm on the victim. The victim was able to flee the residence and contact the police, leaving the armed subject in the house alone. The incident took place in the dark of night at a rural, lightly populated area. Upon arrival of the tac team, the residence was contained, and efforts were made to initiate communications with the subject.
In addition to containment, the team set up an Immediate Action team concealed tight to the residence. This movement was conducted utilizing night vision equipment. Attempts to initiate communication with the subject yielded negative results. As a result, members of team conducted a further recce of the residence and were able to make observations through windows with the assistance of the night vision devices aided by a BE Meyers MAWL IR illuminator.
The subject was located passed out on a couch in the basement with a rifle approximately 10 feet away from him as well as an open, stocked gun cabinet. The residence was in darkness with the exception of a television that provided little illumination. Law enforcement was able to maintain observations while plans were approved through incident command.
While maintaining observations on the subject, the Immediate Action team quietly gained entry to the residence. Members were able to maneuver utilizing only night vision devices, comforted by the fact that the recce team maintained observations of the subject through their NVD’s. The immediate action team moved to the basement and took physical control of the subject awakening him from his sleep and the subject was arrested without incident.
These types of barricade incidents routinely extend many hours until communications are established and the subject is located. More importantly; an intoxicated, armed, barricaded subject is unpredictable, and any movement police can limit is very beneficial for everyone’s safety.
In this case, members were able to safely and discretely maneuver, locate, and ultimately arrest the subject in darkness. This could not have been possible without the night vision devices and was greatly aided by the IR illuminators.
Traditionally, handheld monocular devices like the PVS-14 had been the acceptable standard for NVDs but depending on your needs, dual-tube, binocular NVGs, such as the BNVDs from Night Vision Devices may be more suitable. Like illustrated above, handheld PVS-14s give you the ability to clip on other devices like lenses and cameras – but when used with your eye, just one eye, it can be a big strain on that specific eye. Whereas, BNVD’s allow you to be hands free, increase depth perception, situational awareness and allow the versatility of using additional handheld devices. Rampart can help identify the appropriate device for your agency.
When evaluating NVD’s, Rampart recommends products from Night Vision Devices. Night Vision Devices, a U.S. Veteran Owned Business, is the source for the highest quality US manufactured night vision binoculars, monoculars, weapon sights, night vision parts and service in the industry.
