Flashlights

It had to be powerfully bright, easy to operate and -- perhaps most importantly -- too small and light to be used as a dangerous weapon that could embarrass the Los Angeles Police Department and cost the city significant financial damages. The result: The 7060 LED, what some consider to be the police world's most innovative -- and least harmful -- flashlight.

Seven months after a police officer beat a car thief with a heavy flashlight, the Los Angeles Police Commission approved a policy Tuesday that sharply restricts the use of the devices as weapons to emergencies only. The five commissioners unanimously approved the policy that states that the use of flashlights as weapons is officially "discouraged."

After an LAPD officer was captured on videotape hitting a car-chase suspect with a flashlight 10 months ago, Police Chief William J. Bratton vowed his officers would turn in their heavy metal devices in favor of smaller ones that could not be used as weapons. But officers are still carrying the 2-pound, foot-long flashlights. And the Los Angeles Police Commission has yet to select a replacement.

Los Angeles' police chief said he would direct officers to switch to smaller and lighter flashlights after a divided Police Commission on Tuesday deferred the politically charged decision to him. Chief William J. Bratton said the catalyst for the change was the case of car-theft suspect Stanley Miller, who was repeatedly struck with an oversized 2-pound metal flashlight by a Los Angeles Police Department officer during a televised incident 10 months ago.

If you own a flashlight, you've probably had the experience of sitting in the dark after the batteries die. The new NightStar flashlight attempts to solve the problem by eliminating the batteries. But is this new product a shining star or just a $39.95 flash in the pan? The NightStar design is based on the concept of magnetic force. When the flashlight is shaken, a magnet passes back and forth through a wire coil. The electrical energy generated is then stored in a capacitor.

Timothy Hamilton seems perfectly normal, almost disturbingly normal, until he starts talking about his flashlight collection. "I like the Rayovacs best," he'll tell you. "Rayovacs have the bullet-like back. It was their style." But a few minutes later, he's wavering. "Eveready's the one I like best. I passed on some that maybe I should have bought, but they were like $25 or $40. I sometimes look back and wish I had them." And don't get him started on the on-off switch.

Six months after live television caught a police officer beating a car thief with a heavy metal flashlight, the Los Angeles Police Commission has proposed a policy that discourages their use as a baton except in "exigent circumstances." The policy, unveiled at a Police Commission meeting Tuesday, dictates the use of a flashlight for "illumination." Use as a weapon on suspects is permissible only in emergencies.