Mar 10, 2014
In 1920 the Seattle Police Department parted ways with the ol' ball and chain and introduced the Oregon Boot.
The Oregon Boot—a 5-to-28 pound weight bolted to the heel of an old leather boot—ensured prisoners would think twice before trying to make a run at escaping from police custody.
Today, police use a combination of leg shackles and a chain wrapped around a prisoner's belly to deter escape attempts.
-Photo courtesy the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum