What happens when a key less-lethal tool disappears from the public order toolbox? A recent federal court order halting LAPD’s use of 40mm projectile launchers has reignited a national debate about crowd control, use of force policy and the limits of modern policing.

In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley sits down with Joshua Coleman of the California Force Instructors Association and retired Berkeley Police Captain Spencer Fomby, Chair of the National Tactical Officers Association’s Public Order Section, to unpack the ruling and its broader implications for agencies across the country.

Drawing on decades of experience in protest response, use-of-force training and courtroom testimony, Coleman and Fomby explore how removing intermediate force options can leave officers with fewer safe alternatives when protests turn violent. They discuss the training gaps that often lead to misuse of less-lethal tools, the growing influence of litigation and policy reform on police tactics, and the difficult balance between community expectations and operational reality when unrest escalates.

This episode of the Policing Matters podcast is sponsored by OfficerStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting OfficerStore.com.