SAN DIEGO -- The new Cobra StunLight weapon will soon be in the hands of law-enforcement officers of San Diego County.

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Images: New Weapon

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The sheriff's department is testing a product that deputies hope will improve response time while keeping deputies safe.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is set to begin using the Cobra StunLight on a trial basis. The device is actually four tools in one: a flashlight, laser pointer, impact weapon and -- with the click of a button -- pepper spray.

"I might put the laser on you, and you can see the laser right now -- something is about to happen," said Sgt. John Pokorny of the sheriff's office, demonstrating the Cobra. " I'd say, 'Hey, you need to settle down. Stop right there.' And if you would become combative, I would just spray it."

In the demonstration, water was substituted for the actual chemical agent, but in a real scenario, the target would feel a burning sensation for up to 45 minutes. First, the person's eyes would close, then their skin would start burning, and they would have difficulty breathing.

The pepper spray can hit a person standing up to 21 feet away and will be used in addition to other weapons, including Tasers.

Pokorny, who is with the sheriff's weapons training unit, said the Cobra StunLight decreases response times because it's easily accessible to deputies.

"We have evolved to where we have other force options available to us, and this puts four of them right here in our hand," said Pokorny. "They say the fastest gun in the west -- well, the fastest flashlight in the west will be the one in your hand."

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Chicago police are also testing the Cobra StunLight. One hundred of the devices will be in the hands of deputies during the six-month-long test.