Pepper Spray and the Police

Is Pepper Spray effective? The largest police department in the US thinks so. The NYPD issues it to its 35,000-plus sworn officers. Countrywide it's the first weapon an officer uses against an unruly perp. The TASER is next, and as a last resort, the service pistol may be deployed. Records indicate that many times the first response is the only one needed. The USPS has 300,000 mail carriers and those that might come in contact with dogs are issued Pepper Spray.