Our multi-part look at the kinds of high-tech law enforcement technologies that may be on deck for the Democratic (and perhaps Republican) convention continues. In this edition, Cara DeGette of our sister site, The Colorado Independent, looks at gear from rubber bullets to microwave “pain beams.” Read part one.

Get ready for some screeching. In preparation for the Democratic National Convention in Denver, police will be outfitted with everything from SWAT machines to Tasers to stingers and tear gas and lots of other possible goodies.

In addition to $5 million for heavy equipment that is sure to add a certain je ne sais quoi to this August’s Democratic National Convention, the Denver City Council has given the nod to another $3.4 million for a cop SWAT vehicle and other stuff like “communication equipment,” an “interagency communication system” and an “amplification system.” So far officials have refused to disclose details, but they’ve got $41.6 million left over to buy all kinds of police goodies.

After the jump, let’s check out the possibilities…SWAT Vehicles: SWAT vehicles can take many forms — They can be armored or non-armored, and they can have external fixtures such as turrets, or internal features ranging from ambulance facilities to communications equipment.

The average SWAT vehicle seems geared toward being able to deliver 10 to 12 SWAT team members to their destination, regardless of obstacles.

High Tech Vehicle-Mounted Weapons Tools

Pain Beam (Active Denial System):
This is a “non-lethal” weapon that uses microwaves to cause burning pain.

Given that ADS may pose some risk to eyesight and has caused second-degree burns when a human target has been “overexposed” (as revealed in a Penn State evaluation of a USM Marine Corps study on human effects PDF), it seems somewhat unlikely that Denver will trot this one out for the Democratic National Convention.

Sonic Laser (Medium Range Acoustic Device — MRAD):
This device uses magnets to convert electrical pulses into narrow, directed sound waves that can reach thousands of feet. At close range, it can cause pain and disorientation. Used in New Orleans and Los Angeles for crowd control purposes, the LRAD/MRAD has also been deployed in New York City; Broward County, Fla.; and Boston.

These sonic lasers emit what has been described as a horrible shrieking noise (check out this video of a protest in the country of Georgia. According to the New York Times:

The acoustic devices work by focusing a strong, narrow beam of sound over distances as great as half a mile — for riot control, the beam is a painfully shrill noise akin to a hugely amplified smoke alarm, which will pound the ears of those caught in it but be hardly audible to anyone else. At close range of 100 yards or less, it’s said to be excruciating.

Manufacturers say the noise is only intended to be used for a few seconds at a time, and that there should be no lasting effects from brief exposure — but the machines are more than strong enough to permanently damage the hearing of someone hit longer than that at close range.

Closer to the gr…ound action, an astounding array of Handheld Crowd Control and Dispersal products are available on the market.

Stun Guns and Tazers are always at the top of every law professional’s wish list: But, as our intrepid researcher observes, like Jack Nicholson at the Oscars… no introduction is necessary.

So let’s move on to a few lesser-known (at least right now) options for the well-equipped and eager law enforcement professional:

Handheld Riot Control Launchers: There are several launcher options, but most are built to fire either 37mm or 40mm rounds. There are single-shot launchers and multi-shot launchers. The multi-shot launchers generally have a five-round capacity. There are also “less-than-lethal” ammunition options for standard 12-gauge shotguns.

Riot Control Rounds: Among the possible projectiles for large-gauge riot control launchers:

The Stinger round is like a giant shotgun shell stuffed with more than 100 rubber balls. When skip-fired at medium range (i.e., shot at the feet of a crowd), the Stinger provides “impressive sting to the non-aggressive but non-compliant crowd.”

The 40mm Direct Impact