Disguised Weapons: The Law Enforcement Guide to Covert Guns, Knives, and Other Weapons

Written by an NYPD officer who has seen it all, this book highlights a sobering array of covert weapons, from beeper guns to credit card knives to pen stun guns. Police and security agents will find this an indispensable guide to the search and recovery of these hidden threats. Concealed weapons are nothing new. Many, such as war fans and blowgun flutes, have been around for centuries, and police recover new and ever more devious devices on the street almost daily. But after September 11, 2001, heightened vigilance regarding hidden weapons became a top priority for law enforcement and security personnel worldwide. The events of 9/11, and other security breaches that followed, awakened the public to the grave dangers covert weapons -- and lackadaisical security measures -- pose to civilians and police alike. This book, written by New York Police Officer Craig Meissner, drives the point home. From guns disguised as beepers and cell phones to razor-sharp plastic knives shaped like credit cards to stun guns taking the form of pens and flashlights, the weapons described in this book are based on everyday objects that would not ordinarily arouse suspicion. Outwardly innocuous and strikingly simple, all of these items are extremely treacherous, and most are potentially lethal. In addition to insight into the kinds of weapons to be on the alert for, Meissner offers indispensable advice on search tactics and techniques that will ensure their safe and efficient recovery. Whether you're a police officer, border patrol or airport security agent, corrections officer, private security guard, member of the armed forces, or defense-minded civilian, this book provides an eye-opening -- and potentially life-saving -- glimpse into the world of covert weapons and the ingenuity of the criminal mind.