To help special-purpose units more effectively deal with barricaded suspects, Safariland introduced the WallBanger breaching tool, which was invented by a Houston SWAT veteran, at SHOT Show 2010.

Sandy Wall, a 22-year member of Houston PD's tactical unit, developed the WallBanger bang pole so SWAT units could more effectively deploy flash-bang devices.

The less-lethal tool is constructed of lightweight aluminum square tubing and is used to deploy distraction devices and chemical munitions in order to gain access to a building, structure, or vehicle.

"The whole idea is officer safety," Wall told POLICE Magazine. "We try to get officers away from throwing a flash-bang through a window. [With the WallBanger], the officer remains in control."

The WallBanger tactical utility pole uses hitch pins to connect sections so that it can easily extend to a typical second-story window. It can be extended to several other lengths. An attachment at the top of the pole can be angled at 45 and 90 degrees, so the officer can stay close to the structure while remaining concealed.

There are several attachments available, including the OC Blaster for break-and-rake window entries. The DoorKey Head enables the team to use the Defense Technology 7001C1 flash-bang to breach a padlocked entryway.

The entire system with additional components sells for $4,475 and is immediately available to law enforcement agencies.

Wall is also developing a DoorKey remote breacher with Safariland that would allo officers to open doors from up to 250 feet away.