How, on God's green earth, did we get HERE?

[hardluck]

19. Started with the Newhall Shootout in 1970

In which four CHPs were killed, one of which was killed while trying to reload his service revolver from a dump pouch. This led to the rapid introduction of speed loaders, and well as tactical changes emphasizing officer safety. Police started to transition from revolvers to semiautos with the introduction of the Beretta M92 by the military and its adoption by the LAPD. Many of the modern 9mm semiautos were developed and introduced around this time, including the Glock.

The Miami shootout in 1986 also had a significant impact of officer equipment and tactics. One of the perps was armed with a mini-14, while most of the agents were still armed with revolvers or 9mm semiautos. They were at a significant disadvantage. One of the agents was able to shoot the suspect with a 9mm but it failed to penetrate to his heart (was shot from the side). It was a fatal shot but he kept in the fight and continued to engage and shoot the agents. After that, the FBI went to a more powerful handgun round, the 10mm. But it ended up being too difficult for many to shoot and a lower power round, the 40 cal. was developed.

As others have mentioned, the North Hollywood shootout then brought AR style rifles down from dedicated SWAT team to the officer in the field (or in the case of the LAPD to designated sergeants).

As to some of the other equipment, the pepper spray and tasers were developed as less than lethal devices to supplement and eventually, in essence, replace the traditional side-handled baton. The baton is a good weapon for many instances but sticks take a lot of training and continual practice and frankly, the police departments are not very good at providing that training, and many of the officers are not interested in it. It's easier to provide the quick training on using pepper spray and tasers.