PORTLAND – Portland police have added new ammunition to their arsenal: beanbags.

Police are equipping themselves with compact beanbags that are fired from a shotgun to incapacitate people without killing or seriously injuring them.

“This adds an alternative to deadly force,” said Police Chief Michael Chitwood. “We respond to a lot of calls to people who are in some type of crisis. They could have a weapon or they’re threatening violence.”

Beanbags and other nonlethal weapons are becoming more popular across the country as police try to find ways to resolve conflicts short of putting lives in jeopardy. The Maine State Police have used beanbag ammunition about a half-dozen times since they were first equipped with it in 1994.

The beanbags look like normal shells for standard 12-gauge shotguns. But the rounds are like small sacks about half the size of a golf ball, loosely packed with lead shot.

They hit their targets with a large amount of force, but are intended to not break the skin or damage a person’s internal organs.