DENVER - Denver police are building a supply of guns that fire pepper spray rather than bullets in preparation for protesters at August's Democratic National Convention.

Purchase of 88 Mark IV launchers and projectiles at a cost "in the low six figures," was announced Monday in a news release from the Louisville manufacturers, the Rocky Mountain News reported Tuesday.

Security With Advanced Technology Inc. will provide the weapons for the Denver Police Department with funding provided by a $50 million federal grant. The city plans to spend as much as half that amount on equipment, a senior adviser to Mayor John Hickenlooper said.

But the city has refused to disclose exactly how it is spending all the federal security money, which last month prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to file a civil lawsuit alleging the city is violating the Colorado Open Records Act.

Releasing the information is "contrary to the public interest" because it could disclose important tactical information, potentially jeopardizing security, city officials said.
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