The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has officially authorized its nearly 9,000 deputies to carry and use Crimson Trace Lasergrips.

The department’s firearms training staff conducted a six-year field evaluation of laser gun sights. Twenty deputies used the products on duty to test their usefulness on the job. LASD apparently found them to be an asset in the field.

While some have complained that laser sights can become a crutch, many who use them say they are use-ful tools that aid in aiming, not re-placements for conventional sights.

The chief advantage LASD deputies reported while using Lasergrips was what one deputy called a “calming effect on dangerous felons.” A laser sight’s red dot can intimidate subjects, which can sometimes keep a situation from escalating further.

According to Jason DuVal, law enforcement trainer at Crimson Trace, public perception has been very positive toward police agencies that use laser sights.

“Community leaders like the fact that the risk of injury to innocent civilians is greatly reduced when Lasergrips are used, because of the reduced likelihood of shots being fired in the first place,” says DuVal.