History Main / LawmanBaton

* Some of the Infected (police Commons and riot armor Uncommons) in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' are still carrying nightsticks on their belts when they encounter the survivors. Though, being zombies, they never actually make use of them. You can loot the nightstick off them after they die, though, but it's a problematic weapon against hordes thanks to its narrow swing arc and unreliable hit detection.

* ''Film/OurManFlint'': In the sequel ''In Like Flint'', General Carter's Z.O.W.I.E. guards use expandable batons to fight Flint in the document incinerator room.

* In ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'', the Ingrams used by the cops of [=SV2=] are armed with electromagnetic batons that can disable hostile [[HumongousMecha Labors]] when thrust into the right spot.

* Ex-cop and brutal vigilante Americop in the ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' comics carried a baton as a major part of his arsenal.
* The {{Iconic|Item}} [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]] for ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}, are [[DualWielding a pair of billy clubs]] that he uses to dispense vigilante justice by night while acting as a lawyer by day. Naturally both activities can crossover with each other.

* While he was working for the Bludhaven PD for his day job, ComicBook/{{Nightwing}} relied on his baton in situations where every other cop on the force would consider it suicidal to use anything but lethal force. Of course he's been fighting gun-wielding criminals in this way since he was twelve, even if the baton is a little different from his preferred eskrima sticks.

* This was the entire schtick of Nightstick and Daystick, a pair of thuggish vigilantes from Creator/JossWhedon's run on ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}''. As their names suggest, they wielded batons.
* ''ComicBook/{{Sleepwalker}}'' had a supporting character named Nightstick, whose gimmick was a pair of batons strapped to his forearms.
* Inspector Ishida from ''ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo'', uses a jitte not only to bludgeon criminals and break swords but also as a badge of authority.

* ''[[Film/OurManFlint In Like Flint]]''. General Carter's Z.O.W.I.E. guards use expandable batons to fight Flint in the document incinerator room.

* One of the weapons used by the Precops in ''Film/MinorityReport'' are Sick-sticks. They're retractable batons that can also cause the target to [[BrownNote uncontrollably vomit]] upon contact.

** In ''Film/PoliceAcademy 4: Citizens on Patrol'' a nebbishy rookie cop (played by Tim Kazurinsky) uses his police baton to totally destroy a trio of gangbangers.
** In ''Police Academy 7: Mission To Moscow'', Tackleberry uses one in a demonstration where he complains that most of his methods are considered "[[PoliceBrutality excessive force]]".

** In the [[Film/TheRaid2Berandal sequel film]], the guards of the prison naturally use of simple wooden batons when having to quell the riot. Although due to how brutal and messy the riot has gotten, both Rama, Uco and some of the prisoners employ it during the fight.

* ''Film/TheUntouchables1987''. Malone (the street cop played by Creator/SeanConnery) is carrying one when he encounters Elliot Ness in the midst of a HeroicBSOD after his first bungled raid. When he taps Ness with it to make him move along, the wooden baton makes a clunk as it hits Ness' shoulder-holstered firearm. Malone makes no effort to draw his own weapon, as if he has no need at that distance.
* In both the [[Film/WalkingTall1973 1973 original]] and [[Film/WalkingTall2004 2004 remake]] versions of ''Walking Tall'', the sheriff carries a wood stick as an improvised baton and uses it as his primary weapon.

* The Provost's Guard in the ''[[Literature/TortallUniverse Beka Cooper]]'' books use short, sturdy batons because they lack the lethal implications of edged weapons.

--> "The shaft as a gleaming rod of some tarnishless metal fully four feet long and thick around as a man's forearm etched all around with rich red traceries of lightning strokes, a motif which made the huge shaft appear as if it had but recently been quenched in blood. The oversize headball was a life-sized steel fist, and a hero's fist at that."

* ''Series/{{Arrow}}''. Laurel Lance tries to [[LegacyCharacter take up her sister's legacy]] as the ComicBook/BlackCanary, but without Sara's years of training finds herself unable to handle her bo staff. After getting pummeled in several fights, she changes to a more pragmatic [=PR24=] side-handle baton (possibly also in homage to her father, an officer in the Star City Police Department).
* In one episode of ''Series/{{CSI}}'', a Tabletop game invented by Hodges (which features {{Flanderis|ation}}ed versions of the cast) has a [[PoliceBrutality Brutal]] version of Brass who threatens a suspect with a collapsible truncheon (which he's never been shown with in the series thus far).

-->"The BYOB squad; Bring Your Own Baton!"

* ''Series/{{Forever|2014}}'': A museum guard uses a telescoping baton to attack Henry in "The Last Death of Henry Morgan," having previously attacked [[spoiler: but not killed]] a murder victim with the same weapon.

* Each Correctional Officer (CO) in ''Series/{{OZ}}'' carries a tonfa-style baton. Although they're supposedly carried for defense, there are quite a few instances of brutality against inmates, most notably when [[spoiler:Ryan manipulates three [=COs=] into beating Jia to death with their batons.]]

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'':

* The original ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' has two variants: a simple collapsible baton, and [[ShockStick an electric stun prod]] that is one of the player's starting weapons. Both of these are non-lethal weapons, completely neutralising the target but not killing them as far as characters are concerned.
* ''Videogame/DynastyWarriors''
** Zhuge Dan uses a Nightstick in ''DW 8''. Fitting for a strategist with authority.

* The most obvious example, ''Franchise/MortalKombat'''s own local cop, Kurtis Stryker, who utilizes a nightstick alongside other conventional weapons like his handguns and even uses it like tonfas in ''Armageddon''.
** Cassie Cage the local MilitaryBrat uses an expendable nightstick as her weapon.

* In ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve2'' the protagonist is an FBI agent (for a [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction fictional branch]] called MIST that deals with mutated monsters). The weapons you start off with are a pistol and a police baton (which also happens to be the only exclusively melee weapon in the game).

* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'': One variety of Breen {{mook}}, the Ak'ched Guard, likes to get up close and personal with a neural truncheon. They're one of the more common varieties of mooks at Breen slave labor camps during the "Breen Invasion" arc.

* Appears a lot in the ''VideoGame/{{Yakuza}}'' franchise when the law-enforcement or anything related to their ilk pops up. Batons and nightsticks are also weapons the PlayerCharacter can use.
** Kaoru from ''VideoGame/Yakuza2'' uses a retractable baton. Notably, she pulls one out when attacking [[spoiler:Ryo Takashima]] in the finale.
** Saito from ''VideoGame/Yakuza4'' and his fellow guards uses collapsible batons. Saito's also one sadistic prison guard, using the baton to heavily punish or outright kill the prisoners under his watch. His fellow guards also add in [[WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter wooden katanas]] into their melee arsenal.
** Koichi Adachi or any male party member that takes the ''"Enforcer"'' Job (including Adachi) are armed with batons as their weapons (the latter job uses it in conjunction with [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe a riot shield]]). Adachi has the ''"Detective"'' as his default job which allows him to use different batons or anything that can be used as a baton in a fight.
** In ''{{VideoGame/Judgment}}'', at the start of the boss fight against [[spoiler:Mitsuru Kuroiwa]], he uses a blackjack sap club to take on [[spoiler:Yagami before the latter disarms him]].
** When Yagami has another boss fight against a member of the law enforcement in ''VideoGame/LostJudgment'' (this time [[spoiler:Kisuke Watanabe]]), the latter pulls out an expandable baton to fight him.

* Shows up occasionally on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' with "Springfield's Finest" usually using them for police brutality.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' episode "Chicken Lover", Cartman is handed a baton when he's deputized. He uses it indiscriminately on whoever doesn't "respect my authoritah!"
* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': The season 3 episode "Doing Time" features Officers Nancy O'Malley and John Slugfish appearing to be beating the hell out of someone to "straighten [them] out." Their victim is revealed to be a crooked parking meter.

* In ''Literature/TheIronDream'', truncheons are the favourite melee weapon in Held. Feric Jaggar, their leader chosen by fate, wields the ''Steel Commander''.

* The PR-24 tonfa-style baton appears in the first ''VideoGame/PoliceQuest''. It's kept in Sonny's assigned patrol car when he's not on duty and he's not allowed to carry it into the station. It's used to deal with some unruly bikers who get violent when asked to move their bikes.

In more modern times, many police departments have adopted the [[RetractableWeapon expandable baton]] ([[IHaveManyNames also known as collapsible, telescopic, extendable, tactical, or spring cosh baton]]), because of how compact they can become when retracted and the ease to store and carry around. There's also the option of a sturdy, big and heavy flashlight, which [[ImprovisedWeapon can be just as effective for bludgeoning]], while also giving a less threatening appearance and, of course, being a light source. There's the added benefit that with modern LED technology, a flashlight big and hefty enough to be used as a baton typically has equally big and hefty batteries that [[InfiniteFlashlight last a really long time]].

If a baton is seen in the hands of riot control police, almost always expect it to be used in [[DualWielding tandem]] with [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe a riot shield]], giving the officer not only some protection, but two ways to dispense blunt force: either good old bludgeoning with the baton or some simple [[ShieldBash shield bashing]].

Another evolution of this trope is its tendency to crossover with ShockAndAwe to create a ShockStick, especially in more futuristic science fiction settings. This is mostly because the two well-known weapons cops have to subdue perpetrators or suspects in the 21st century are either batons or tasers/stun guns. [[MixAndMatchWeapon So why not combine both?]] Makes the law enforcement and their ilks job of enforcing the law or engaging in some PoliceBrutality much easier.

Depending on the portrayal on the police force, a baton can be:
* A heroic weapon (for truly righteous cops)
* A standard-issue RedShirt weapon (especially against heavily armed crooks or supernatural menaces)
* A [[PoliceBrutality symbol of fear]] (especially when wielded by a DirtyCop or a KillerCop -- or a whole army of 'em)

In more modern times, many police departments have adopted the [[RetractableWeapon expandable baton]] ([[IHaveManyNames also known as collapsible, telescopic, extendable, tactical and spring cosh baton]]), because of how compact they can become when retracted and the ease to store and carry around. There's also the option of a sturdy, big and heavy flashlight, which [[ImprovisedWeapon can be just as effective for bludgeoning]], while also giving a less threatening appearance and, of course, being a light source. There's the added benefit that with modern LED technology, a flashlight big and hefty enough to be used as a baton typically has equally big and hefty batteries that [[InfiniteFlashlight last a really long time]].

** In VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha, Sodom has a pair of ''jitte'' instead of paired katanas.

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* In ''Anime/CyberCityOedo808'', the three BoxedCrook protagonists (who are working off their sentences as "special" officers) all carry collapsible red jitte. In the second OVA, Gogul even uses his to identify himself as law enforcement.

* This was the entire schtick of Nightstick and Daystick, a pair of thuggish vigilantes from Creator/JossWhedon's run on ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}''. As their names suggest, they wielded batons.
* ''ComicBook/{{Sleepwalker}}'' had a supporting character named Nightstick, whose gimmick was a pair of batons strapped to his forearms.

* The {{Iconic|Item}} [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]] for ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}, are [[DualWielding a pair of billy clubs]] that he uses to dispense vigilante justice by night while acting as a lawyer by day. Naturally both activities can crossover with each other.

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* In ''Film/DemolitionMan'', in the future city of San Angeles, the police are armed with batons... [[ShockStick which can discharge electric currents]]. Although due to how non-violent their world is, they don't really have the best idea to use it.
* In ''Film/ConquestOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', the police force is used mostly to control the ape slaves and all carry big sticks to beat recalcitrant apes with.

* One of the weapons used by the Precops in ''Film/MinorityReport'' are Sick-sticks. They're retractable batons that can also cause the target to [[BrownNote uncontrollably vomit]] upon contact.
* ''Film/TheUntouchables1987''. Malone (the street cop played by Creator/SeanConnery) is carrying one when he encounters Elliot Ness in the midst of a HeroicBSOD after his first bungled raid. When he taps Ness with it to make him move along, the wooden baton makes a clunk as it hits Ness' shoulder-holstered firearm. Malone makes no effort to draw his own weapon, as if he has no need at that distance.
* In ''Film/AManCalledSledge'', one of the warders threatens Sledge with a truncheon; thinking that Sledge is safely handcuffed. Sledge snatches the club off him and knocks him out with it.
* ''Film/TheManhunt'': The chief guard in the prison carries a baton that he uses to whack Ethan Wayne in the kidneys for any infraction of the rules, [[WardensAreEvil or even if there has been no infraction]].

* In ''Literature/TheIronDream'', truncheons are the favourite melee weapon in Held. Feric Jaggar, their leader chosen by fate, wields the ''Steel Commander''.
--> "The shaft as a gleaming rod of some tarnishless metal fully four feet long and thick around as a man's forearm etched all around with rich red traceries of lightning strokes, a motif which made the huge shaft appear as if it had but recently been quenched in blood. The oversize headball was a life-sized steel fist, and a hero's fist at that."

* The ''Series/{{Elementary}}'' rendition of Franchise/SherlockHolmes practices [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singlestick singlestick]] for self-defense, considering it a simple and elegant fighting style. He makes use of it with a collapsible metal baton in "M." to capture the SerialKiller who [[spoiler:he thought]] killed Irene Adler. Joan Watson also takes up singlestick when she becomes a detective and by the second season has acquired her own telescopic baton. In season 3 Joan works out that Kitty Winter is working for Sherlock because she too uses a baton and singlestick moves.

* A Season Five episode of ''Series/TheDetectives'' has the hapless duo trying to rescue their boss's grand-daughter from an environmental protest before the Met's Territorial Support Group do a raid. Or as Bob describes them due to their brutality:
-->"The BYOB squad; Bring Your Own Baton!"

* ''Series/InspectorGeorgeGently'': In "Gently Between the Lines", police with truncheons charge to disperse a group of protesters. After one of the policemen is injured in the ensuing melee, a group of three coppers are shown menacingly brandishing their truncheons as they return to the fray, looking to inflict some serious payback on anyone they can find.
* The deputies in ''Series/Reno911'' are quite fond of engaging in what Deputy Garcia calls "stick time."
* Each Correctional Officer (CO) in ''Series/{{OZ}}'' carries a tonfa-style baton. Although they're supposedly carried for defense, there are quite a few instances of brutality against inmates, most notably when [[spoiler:Ryan manipulates three [=COs=] into beating Jia to death with their batons.]]

* In VideoGame/AstralChain, you wield a device known as an X-Baton, a MorphWeapon that can change between a Baton, a pistol, and a large {{BFS}}

* ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'': Combine Civil Protection officers wield stun batons that they use when dishing out their [[PoliceBrutality particular brand of justice]]. After [[OneManArmy Gordon Freeman]] dons his HEV suit and crushes the skull of a baton-wielding CP with his {{crowbar|Combatant}}, they switch to their pistols and are never seen using their batons again. Worth noting that the one stun baton you get off said CP is collectable [[UnusableEnemyEquipment not as a weapon]], but as a battery for your suit's armor.
* In the ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' and ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' games, Rolento the ex-soldier fights with a baton and an acrobatic, speedy style.
** In VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha, Sodom has a pair of ''jitte'' instead of paired katanas.

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy''
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', most melee-type enemies of the Corps (military/police organization of Cocoon) category wield batons in battle. Some higher-level PSICOM (e.g. Huntress) and Sanctum (e.g. Inquisitrix) enemies have them, as well.
** Jihl Nabaat in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' wields a [[StaffOfAuthority swagger stick]] as a weapon but isn't fought until a DLC battle in the [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 the sequel]]
** Shinra Infantrymen wield police batons in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' and ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'' alongside their assault rifles. The Turk Reno also wields a collapsible shock baton befitting his corporate thug image.
* ''Videogame/DynastyWarriors''
** Zhuge Dan uses a Nightstick in ''DW 8''. Fitting for a strategist with authority.
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'': One variety of Breen {{mook}}, the Ak'ched Guard, likes to get up close and personal with a neural truncheon. They're one of the more common varieties of mooks at Breen slave labor camps during the "Breen Invasion" arc.
* Some of the Infected (police Commons and riot armor Uncommons) in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' are still carrying nightsticks on their belts when they encounter the survivors. Though, being zombies, they never actually make use of them. You can loot the nightstick off them after they die, though, but it's a problematic weapon against hordes thanks to its narrow swing arc and unreliable hit detection.
* The original ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' has two variants: a simple collapsible baton, and [[ShockStick an electric stun prod]] that is one of the player's starting weapons. Both of these are non-lethal weapons, completely neutralising the target but not killing them as far as characters are concerned.

* In ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHardline'', the baton is the QuickMelee weapon for Nick Mendoza in single-player and the police in multiplayer.
* ''VideoGame/{{Strider}} Hiryu'' uses a cipher, which is a LaserBlade that resembles the tonfa-style baton.
* Alyssa from ''VideoGame/CosmicStarHeroine'', an API officer, fights enemies using various quarterstaffs. Crushing the enemies isn't their only function; Alyssa can also stun foes, shoot lasers and cast [[MakingASplash water magic]] using these staffs.
* The PAX guards in ''VideoGame/{{Anachronox}}'' all carry batons which they are [[PoliceBrutality all too happy to crush your head with]].
* You can get one in ''VideoGame/Hitman2016''. It's useful as it allows for quiet non-lethal takedowns, and the baton itself won't be detected if you're frisked.
* Law enforcement in the ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'' series often use nightsticks at the lowest Wanted level to try and arrest the PlayerCharacter. This is more common in the 3D universe,[[labelnote:list]]''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto3'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoLibertyCityStories'', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity'' and ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCityStories Vice City Stories]]'', and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas''[[/labelnote]] as cops in the HD universe[[labelnote:list]]''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV'' and ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''[[/labelnote]] (excluding ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoChinatownWars Chinatown Wars]]'') will instead hold you at gunpoint and shoot you if you resist arrest.

* The PR-24 tonfa-style baton appears in the first ''VideoGame/PoliceQuest''. It's kept in Sonny's assigned patrol car when he's not on duty and he's not allowed to carry it into the station. It's used to deal with some unruly bikers who get violent when asked to move their bikes.

* Shows up occasionally on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' with "Springfield's Finest" usually using them for police brutality.
* In ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'', the Mandalorian police carry electrified stun batons, which look just like an American police officer's side-handle nightstick, because under the pacifist government of the era lethal weapons like blasters are forbidden.