5 Nonlethal Weapons Used by Private Security
While some security officers may undergo the certification and licensing process to carry a firearm while on duty, there are other nonlethal weapons that officers can use when appropriate.
Below we’ve listed out five of the most common nonlethal weapons that private security personnel might use in the course of their work. As a note, security personnel in your jurisdiction may need to meet licensing, certification, and training requirements before being able to legally use these devices.
1. Batons
Some jurisdictions allow private security personnel to carry batons—either expandable or fixed—after they have undergone a training and certification process to use them. Security personnel may be authorized to use batons for self-defense and in situations where lethal force is not appropriate. In Ontario, Canada, for instance, private investigators and security guard services may use batons if they are issued to individuals employed by a licensed or registered business entity, for defensive purposes only, and have insurance to cover the risks associated with employees carrying batons.
2. Canines
There was a string of robberies targeting athletes around the world in 2024, including Premier League stars Jack Grealish and Alexander Isak, NBA competitors Mike Conley and Bobby Portis, and NFL icons Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes. In response, several athletic leagues encouraged players to consider getting guard dogs for home protection. These security-focused canines can be trained to “detect and deter intruders” to “provide immediate response capabilities,” according to Canine Protection International. Common breeds for this particularly work include German Shepherd and Belgian Malinois.
3. Conducted Energy Weapons
These handheld devices are designed to shoot out darts that, when they strike their target, send a jolt of electricity to stun or temporarily incapacitate an individual’s motor nervous system. One of the most popular conducted energy weapons on the market is the TASER, manufactured by Axon. The TASER 10, which debuted in January 2023, has a maximum range of 45 feet and the barbs can travel at 205 feet per second. While considered a nonlethal weapon, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has a policy requiring officers to—when possible—consider a subject’s known health concerns (heart conditions or pregnancy, for example) and surrounding environment (potential to fall from a significant height or into water) before using a conducted energy weapon.
4. Pepper Spray (OC Spray)
Have you ever cut a jalapeño pepper, touched your face, and had your eyes painfully and uncontrollably tear up? That’s the effect that capsaicin has on the human body and is why it’s used in pepper sprays—also known as oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray—by security personnel. “Pepper spray causes irritation of the eyes, skin, and mucus membranes,” according to the National Capital Poison Center. “Inhalation exposures can cause coughing, difficulty breathing, nasal and throat irritation, and a runny nose. Eye exposures can result in pain, redness, watery eyes, difficulty opening the eyes, and sensitivity to light. Skin exposures can cause pain, redness, swelling, and itching.” Pepper spray is a popular nonlethal weapon choice for security personnel to temporarily incapacitate an individual.
5. Stun Guns
These devices deliver an electric charge directly to a person’s body—not using a projectile like conducted energy weapons do—to cause muscle spasms, pain, and incapacitation. These devices require the person using it to be close to their target, so stun guns are sometimes less commonly used than other nonlethal weapon types.
Megan Gates is editor-in-chief of Security Technology, a publication of Security Management. Connect with her at [email protected] or on LinkedIn.
